Wednesday, April 6 2005 09:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: With just a day remaining for the launch of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, 14 out of 29 passengers who can avail it on the first day have purchased tickets for the inaugural travel.

Eleven tickets were sold by Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) yesterday (Apr 5, 2005), official sources said. Three tickets were sold Monday (Apr 4, 2005).

The tickets were purchased at the special booking counter of SRTC by policemen on behalf of the passengers, the sources said, adding that this was done as a precautionary measure in view of threats held out by militants to the travellers on the bus.

The passengers have been housed in the heavily guarded tourist reception centre with an advice by authorities not to move out of the complex or mingle with unknown persons as a security measure.

Passengers have been brought to Srinagar from various parts of the State on Monday.

Reports coming in state that at least one of the 29 passengers has decided not to board the inaugural bus from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad on April 7 and two more are likely to follow suit, official sources in New Delhi said.

They said a woman passenger, whose identity could not be revealed due to security reasons, hailed from Jammu region and had written to the authorities saying that she may not like to undertake the journey to Muzaffarabad. The letter did not assign any reasons for her decision.

The sources said two more passengers, who were to reach Srinagar yesterday, have not done so and there was no communication from them.

Meanwhile, another militant Pakistan-based militant group Al-Badar also issued a warning to the passengers asking them to stay away from the bus service. It also asked people to refrain from participating in the function being organised by Jammu and Kashmir Government on the occasion.

Kashmir Mass Movement, an amalgam of four militant outfits, again renewed its threat to the passengers asking them to refrain from travelling in the bus.