Escalating tensions along the line of Control in Poonch could not stop movement of passengers of peace bus service via Chakan-da-Bagh transit point in Poonch on Monday. Official sources said, “A total of 84 passengers hailing from PoK and Indian side of the border crossed the loC even as Army officers from both the sides wore tough looks and avoided greeting each other.” Five Indian soldiers were martyred near Chakan-da-Bagh by the BAT team of Pak Army on August 6 provoking nationwide outrage against the Pak butchery.
The gate which divides the line of control was thrown open for barely 17 minutes between 3.10 and 3.27 p.m during which time 54 fresh passengers from PoK crossed inside the Indian territory and 30 passengers hailing from PoK returned to their homes after meeting their relatives in Poonch. The movement of peace bus service was earlier suspended since August 5 on account of advance information provided by the Pak authorities to their Indian counterparts.