The Hindu : A New Year gift to them

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 21, 2003

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National

A New Year gift to them

By Luv Puri

Manjakot (Rajouri) Dec. 20. T housands of divided families on the Line of Control are elated over the resumption of the Samjhauta Express and look upon it as a New Year gift to them.

The thoughts of meeting their families on the other side and in other parts of Pakistan seemed impossible just a month back.

Before 1990, the LoC was a porous boundary for the villagers. Wedding parties from both sides, with the approval of Army officers posted in the forward areas, was a common sight here.

A local resident, Satish Sethi, said he had crossed the LoC several times. He was arrested once by the Pakistan Army but managed to escape.

The situation changed once infiltration started. And, from then on, crossing the LoC became a risk. Residents had to travel hundreds of miles for boarding the train from the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab to go to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This too was closed down after the December 13 attack on Parliament.

Now that the route has been reopened many are rushing to the towns to renew their passports. Murid Chowdhary's uncle lives in Mirpur district of PoK, which is less than 50 km from here. His cousin was supposed to get married this month, but the announcement of ceasefire led to its postponement. Murid's uncle presumed that the rail routes would also open up and his relatives in India could grace the moment of joy.

Nasir Rana is eager to visit Lahore, but for an altogether different reason. He wants to offer prayers at his grandmother's grave. " The last wish of my grandmother was to see me. But, now with the resumption of the train services I can at least offer fatiah (prayer) at her graveyard."

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