LoC bus service resumes after two weeks
Trade, travel was suspended following a deadlock over the arrest of a driver from PoK on drug trafficking charges
Srinagar: The Srinagar-Muzaffarbad bus service resumed on Monday after remaining suspended for two weeks following a deadlock over the arrest of a driver from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on drug trafficking charges.
The bus from Indian side, carrying 28 passengers reached Kaman Post—the zero point on the Line of Control in Uri sector of Baramulla district—shortly before noon, officials said. Passengers included 10 PoK residents returning home after visiting their relatives in the Kashmir valley and 18 Indian citizens.
PoK authorities suspended travel and trade on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road after 110 packets of brown sugar worth ₹ 100 crore were recovered from a truck coming from across the LoC on 17 January. The driver of the vehicle was arrested. In retaliation, PoK authorities detained 27 Indian drivers and their trucks demanding release of the arrested driver.
They also refused to take back 48 other PoK drivers till their demand was met. The officials from two sides held several meetings to break the deadlock and during the latest round of talks on 30 January decided to resume the Bus service. They also decided to continue the talks to work out a solution to the impasse in the trade. PTI
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