Srinagar, Jan 31 2019 : Indian Army authorities have disallowed a youth from Azad Jammu and Kashmir to meet his grandmother and other relatives after he legally crossed over the Line of Control in Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch.
Kamran Aftab, the 20-year-old resident of Bandii, tehsil Khuiratta, district Kotli of AJK travelled on the peace bus service on January 28 to meet with his many relatives including his grandmother who lives in Galota Behrote Mendhar area in Poonch occupied Kashmir
Galota Behrote village is located ahead of LoC fence in occupied Kashmir and to reach there one has to cross gates manned by the Indian troops.
On reaching Poonch, 20-year old Kamran Aftab said he moved towards Mendhar in order to meet his grandmother and relatives Mohammad Mahroof son of Faqir Mohammad living in Galota Behrote area.
"I reached the Indian army gate so that I can move towards the village where my grandmother and uncle are living but Indian troops disallowed me,” Aftab told media men.
The AJK youth then went to local Police Post Balakote along with some local residents, but received no help there, Aftab said. "We visited the office of deputy commissioner Poonch and informed him about the matter who in turn wrote a letter to army authorities."
A copy of the letter is with one Srinagar based daily Greater Kashmir in which deputy commissioner Poonch, Rahul Yadav has accorded permission to Aftab to cross the LoC fencing gates for visiting his relative Mohammad Mahroof son of Faqir Mohammad. However, the Indian army authorities again declined to let him cross the gates despite the DC’s letter of permission.
"I am presently living in the house of one of my relative here and wish to go to Galota Behrote village where my grandmother and uncle's family is living," Aftab said, saddened by the Indian army denials. Aftab’s legal permit (number P-75168) to travel on the cross-LoC bus expires on February 25,2019. The permit is issued by designated Indian and Pakistani authorities on both sides of the LoC after fierce scrutiny of the travelers’ credentials.