August 30, 2006	Wednesday	Sha'aban 5, 1427

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MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 29: More than 130 people from the divided regions of Kashmir travelled across the Line of Control from the Tetrinote Chakan da Bagh crossing point, an official said.

The trans-LoC journey came three days after a ceasefire violation by Indian troops in Nakyal sub-sector of southern Kotli district in which a 40-year-old woman from Balakot was hit by an Indian sniper while cutting fodder for cattle.

The victim, who was airlifted to Rawalpindi on account of her serious conditions, succumbed to injuries in a hospital on Sunday and was buried in her ancestral village.

The official told Dawn that 74 people went across the LoC from the AJK whereas 60 people came from the opposite side. Those coming from Indian held Kashmir included 45 new travellers and 26 returning residents of the AJK. From the AJK side 24 new travellers and 29 returning residents of the Indian held Kashmir crossed the LoC.

Some of them, the official said, were to cross the LoC from Tatta Pani-Maindhar point but due to some technical reasons they were asked to cross over from the Tetrinote-Chakan da Bagh point.

Geographically, Tatta Pani-Maindhar crossing point also falls in Poonch district but administratively it is handled by the officials of neighbouring Kotli district.

A second bus service between Rawalakot in AJK and Poonch in held Kashmir was flagged off on June 20 from this point.

However, the symbolic service does not practically offer any facility to AJK passengers who have to reach Tetrinote, the last village on the AJK side of the LoC, on their own on foot before using this services.