MUZAFFARABAD, July 7: A woman from a border village of Occupied Kashmir who crossed the Line of Control after being badly beaten by her brother repents the decision she took in a fit of anger and wants to go back but some problems stand in the way of her repatriation.

Maryam Bibi, 28, is often seen crying in her cell in police station of Athmuqam, where she has been lodged for the past two weeks and makes frequent passionate appeals to the SHO and every visitor to facilitate her reunion with her family.

Belonging to Karhama village in the Indian held territory, Bibi crossed the unmarked dividing line in the dead of night nearly four months ago, entering Tarban village in the upper belt of picturesque Neelum valley.

She was sheltered by Chaudhry Abdul Rashid, a noted political personality of the area, who brought the matter to the notice of authorities shortly afterwards to avoid any complications.

Athmuqam police station SHO Khawaja Arshad Shafi told Dawn that after some time they handed over the woman to her distant relative living in a camp of Kashmiri refugees on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad. But after one month, the relative refused to undertake the responsibility and brought her back to Athmuqam police, fearing that the traumatic woman could take any extreme step which could subsequently land him in trouble.

The only unspoiled room of police station, serving as accommodation of some staff, was then emptied and converted into women’s lockup where Bibi was quartered, the SHO said.

He said initially they kept her free but later she had to be confined to the cell in view of her state of depression.

During interaction with a group of reporters, Bibi recalled that when she visited her brother to consult him on a family matter he not only severely beat her up but also threatened to kill her.

“I don’t know why and how I decided to cross the border (LoC) without even letting my husband know about my decision,” she said.

Bibi cannot control her emotions when she talks about her sons, 6-year old Fayaz and two and a half years old Shakir. She is more worried about Fayaz who she says is physically disabled and “was gifted by the God after much prayers and invocations.” The agony of separation from husband and kids and fears of its perpetuation have aggravated her condition.

“I realise that my repatriation is difficult. Indian troops will beat me. I am scared. But I want to reunite with my Fayaz and Shakir,” she said, with tears rolling down her cheeks.