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| Rah-e-Milan crossing lowest since inception | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 28: Known as Rah-e-Milan, the Poonch-Rawalkote Bus Service today witnessed the lowest number of the members of divided families to carry either side of the Line of Control (LoC) from Chakan Da Bagh crossing point, which was also witness to a protest by cross-LoC traders.
A total of 19 people crossed the LoC today. Of them, 10 left for Rawalkote in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). All of them were PoK nationals, who returned homes after spending time with their relatives in Poonch, official sources said.
Nine people came from Rawalkote. Sources said this was the lowest number of passengers to change sides since June 20, 2005, when Rah-e-Milan was started as part of confidence building measures (CBMs) between the two neighbouring countries.
Sources said apart from recording the lowest number of Rah-e-Milan
users, the day also witnessed a protest by the cross-LoC traders, who
announced to suspend trade on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The angry traders, including Pawan Anand, Krishan Singh and Sheraz
Ahmad Khan, told The Early Times that they would hold demonstrations
outside the Trade Centre at Chakan Da Bagh on Tuesday and Wednesday in support of their demands.
Their main demands included facility to talk on phone to their PoK
counterparts and banking facility. They said the number of items
approved for cross-LoC trade in PoK was 60, while it was 25 on the
Indian side. "The number of items be enhanced to 60 on our side also," they demanded.
They also emphasised the need for a review meeting between the two
sides every three months as per the agreement on October 21, 2008,
when the cross-LoC trade had begun.
The traders, who planned to keep trade suspended till their demands were met, also had a meeting with PoK authorities at Chakan Da Bagh this afternoon.
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