Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 17: Despite strained relations between India and Pakistan after militant attack at Uri on Army Brigade headquarter followed by surgical strike by troops on militant launch pads in Pakistan Occupied Kamir (POK) , the Karvan-e-Aman peace bus run continued.
Official sources told that the weekly bus, operating between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, capital of POK, left here early this morning for Kaman post, the last Indian military post on this side of the LoC in Uri sector, where fidayeen attacked Army Brigade headquarters on September 18 left 19 soldiers dead and over 20 others wounded. Four Jai-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants, believed to be foreigners, were also killed in the encounter.
Sources said eight passengers boarded the bus here before leaving for Uri. However, the exact number would be known later in the afternoon when more passengers will board the bus for POK.
The bus has reached Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC), Uri at around 0800 hrs safely. The fidayeen attack followed by surgical strike by Indian troops on militant launch pads across the border. However, Pakistan has denied any such strike and claimed that two of their soldiers were killed in cross border elling.
Barring July 11 and 18, the bus service continued despite curfew, restrictions and strike for the past 93 days in the valley, where 86 people were killed and over 9,000 others injured in security force and police action, since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Burhan Wani and two other militants were killed in an encounter in Anantnag, evoking massive protest.
The bus service on these days was suspended, owing to strike by the separatists for security reasons, while on July 4 and September 12, in view of Eid festivals.
During the unrest, the bus from Srinagar to Kaman post is leaving Srinagar early in the morning to avoid any violence on way in view of strike.
Similarly, people coming from PoK have to wait at Uri before starting journey towards their respective destinations late in the night to avoid stone pelting.
The bus service, introduced on April 7, 2005, has helped thousands of families divided due to partition in 1947 to meet each other after India and Pakistan agreed to allow travel of state subjects from both sides on travel permits, instead of international passport.
However, people are allowed to travel only after their names are cleared from intelligence agencies from both sides. |
