9 cross LoC as 2nd point at Chakan-da-Bagh opens Monday, November 21 2005 20:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -
Chakan-da-Bagh (LoC):
With the killer quake opening a route for families in divided Kashmir to reunite with their long-lost relatives, nine persons today (Nov 21,2005) walked into Pakistan occupied Kashmir across the Line of Control as India and Pakistan opened the second meeting point at Chakan-da-Bagh Frontier Post.
Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, M R Thakur and DC, Rawalakote Sardar Mohmmad Farooq shook hands and exchanged pleasantries at this frontier point and allowed seven Indian and two from PoK to cross over along zero line into PoK's Xingpoint post around 1545 hours.
Emotional crossers rushed to talk and embrace their near and dear ones separated for half a century. Others were seen clicking photographs.
Col Sant Ram and his Pakistani counterpart, Lt Col Ali Khan exchanged white flags and hugged each other as hundreds people of PoK and Jammu and Kashmir watched at distance crossover of divided family members with joy.
"It is landmark of occasion for the divided families, of whom seven members have crossed over from second cross border road after Uri-Muzafrabad road via Amun Sethu," Thakur and Farooq told reporters here.
The Indians, who crossed over to PoK include Qateel Sarwar, his wife Parveen Sarwar, daughter Sakina Sarwar and son Feroz Sarwar, residents of Goldh (Mendhar),Javed Iqbal and his wife Gulrez Anjum, residents of Galoota (Mendhar) and Mohammad Aslam of Nagali (Poonch).
The two Pakistanis Jameela and his son Manzar, who had traveled to Jammu and Kashmir via Amun Sethu from PoK before October 8th earth quake, today walked back to PoK.