Four bus passengers deported to Pak

The deportation formalities delayed the bus by about an hour.

This is the first time that an embarrassing situation has been created involving the 8220;goodwill8221; bus after it started operating between the two countries on March 15.

According to official sources, the four porters had got on the bus from the Pakistan side of Wagah check-post in violation of the agreement between the two countries, according to which passengers cannot embark midway, only at the two take-off points of Lahore and Delhi.

The sources said that the Indian government had conveyed its concern over the violation of agreement to the Pakistan authorities through competent channels.

The local Customs authorities said that the passengers were carrying 8220;items of commercial value8221;, including cigarettes and halogen lamps, besides two lambs hidden in a basket. One of the porters had concealed two lamps in a basket, which he planned to sell in Delhi.

While the lambs were detained, the passengers8217; were given the option of paying customs duty on the commercial items, which they resisted. Sharma pointed out that the four could have been taken into custody for violating the travel rules.

The liaison officer of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation and other passengers requested the Indian Customs authorities to deport the four. The bus arrived at 8 a.m. and left for Delhi at 9.50 a.m.