At Haji Peer, kin wait but relief material exchanged

Anxious relatives could not, for the second time, cross the LoC. Today, the venue was Haji Peer sector in Uri—one of the four meeting p...

Anxious relatives could not, for the second time, cross the LoC. Today, the venue was Haji Peer sector in Uri—one of the four meeting points that India and Pakistan had agreed to open for allowing people of both sides to meet their relatives.

Relief material, however, was exchanged at Haji Peer point, the shortest link route to PoK. This afternoon when officials from both sides met at a small bridge on the LoC, only relief material was exchanged.

Villagers from both sides of the LoC submitted their forms with respective officials for the crossing. They waited to cross, but their efforts proved futile. Officials attributed the delay to the clearance procedures. ‘‘It takes time to clear the names of passengers,’’ said the Regional Passport Officer in Srinagar.

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While the Pakistani side gave 30 food sacks, the Indian side gave 263 tents, medicine and food items. ‘‘We gave tents, food items and medicine to Pakistani officials for distribution in quake-affected areas,’’ Army spokesperson Lt Col V K Batra said, adding ‘‘delay in formalities from both sides could be the reason for delay.’’

Although officials from both sides had set a November 24 date for crossing at Haji Peer, it got delayed as both sides did not clear names of passengers.

After a meeting, the Pakistani team—represented by Director Social Welfare Bagh, Shakeel Ahmad, Assistant Commissioner, Bagh Omar Ahmad—gave a list of 12 passengers. Of the 12 passengers from PoK, seven have sought permission for Uri, five for Poonch and one for Baramulla. The list, officials said, is under process for the clearance.

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