Pak police fires into air as LoC opens
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service
 The Pakistani police lobs tear gas shells to check restive quake survivors from crossing the border at Tritinote village, Pakistan, on Monday. They had gathered to catch a glimpse of their dear ones living in Jammu and Kashmir. — AP, PTI |
Chakan-da-Bagh (Line of Control), November 7
It was an emotional moment on the LoC between India and the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) here this morning as relief material for victims of the killer earthquake was exchanged between the two countries.
Although the civilians on the either side were not allowed to come near the LoC, but hundreds of anxious, people donning spotless white dresses, converged in Titrinote village on the PoK side in the hoping to have a glimpse of their separated relatives on this side. The security forces of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir fired into the air to prevent them from coming nearer the LoC as they started growing restive.
As the time passed, the number of people on the other side of the LoC considerably swelled and more were seen approaching there from the hills across.
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Civilians on the Indian side in Poonch were stopped by the Army, about 3 km away from the crossing point. People on both sides returned disappointed as they were kept away from the LoC.
A large number of media, including foreign, had converged on both sides to cover the friendly gesture that was taking place after 58 years of Partition.
It was a chance meeting of at least two relatives who had come to witness the historic occasion on either side when Mohammad Abbas Khan, a lawyer practising in the district courts at Poonch and his first cousin Sardar Mohammad Jagir Khan embraced each other with tears rolling from their eyes.
Jagir Khan informed his cousin about the death of some of their relatives due to the earthquake last month.
Senior civil and military officers of both sides exchanged the relief material at the zero point on the LoC that was marked with a thin white ribbon. The trucks carrying relief material reached the LoC where it was loaded into the Pakistani trucks.
Although 25 truckloads of relief material was offered by the Divisional Commissioner, Mr B.R. Sharma, but the Deputy Commissioner of Rawlakot (PoK), Mohammad Farooq, accepted only tents,blankets and medicines and not the 17 trucks that were carrying rice, flour and sugar. As many as 300 tents and 3000 tarpaulins have been handed over in the first consignment of relief. The second exchange of relief would take place next week, as the crossing point would be opened once a week.
India and Pakistan had decided to open five points on the LoC to facilitate relief work in the wake of devastation on both sides, but only one point here was opened today. The other points at Uri and Tangdhar will be opened on November 9 and 10.
It was a feat for mediapersons on both sides as the ceremony started with Brigadier A.K. Bakhi and his Pakistani counterpart Tahir Naqvi exchanging white flags. Thereafter, mediapersons of both sides were allowed to mingle without any restrictions of crossing the LoC. The Indian mediapersons freely moved into the PoK territory, while the journalists from the other side were also allowed to cross the white line to have a feel of the occasion.
The Divisional Commissioner said that procedures were being finalised for crossing of the people from either side to meet their relatives. Application forms for this purpose will be made available in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Poonch. A hotline has been established between the post commanders on both sides.
Babur Ghumman was excited when he put his one foot on the Indian side of the LoC. He said that he would now be able to claim that he has visited the Indian side of Jammu and Kashmir.
He wished that the LoC is removed once for all with no restrictions on the people on both sides to visit either side. He said that people in PoK had appreciated the gesture of the two governments opening five points for the exchange of relief. Mr M. Musa, a DSP of the PoK police at Bagh, said that the people on his side were eager that the manmade barriers should break soon.
Tahir Khan, who had come all the way from Lahore to witness the occasion, said that although the exchange of relief by both sides was a symbolic occasion, but it was a big leap forward in relations between the two countries.
He said that people from far-off places, including Rawalpindi and Texla (about 300 kms away), had converged on the PoK side in the hope of meeting their relatives on the Indian side. They were keen that the friendly gestures should continue. Mohammad Jagir Khan, with fears in his eyes, said that he was grateful to god who provided him the occasion to meet his cousin after 34 years. They had last met in 1971.
He said that there was large-scale destruction in the PoK where bodies were still buried under the debris. The international aid was not coming forthcoming. Jehangir, a resident of Abbaspur, said that many of his relatives died due to the earthquake. More than 400 persons were killed in the village and about 85 per cent houses were destroyed.
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