The scheduled cross-LoC (Line of Control) bus service between Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir and Rawalakot in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) was suspended on Monday by the authorities in the wake of firing and shelling by the Pakistan Army on Monday, officials said.
The shelling damaged the two-storey administrative block of the Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) and the police barracks at Chakan-Da-Bagh, which is the point for the crossing of the bus and trade exchange at the LoC.
“There has been Pakistan shelling overnight and as a precautionary measure, the bus service has been suspended,” said an officer connected with the LoC travel.
However, no one was injured in the firing and shelling, the officer said.
The bus service was started in 2006 to enable the divided families of Jammu and Kashmir and PoK to re-connect.
The cross-LoC trade and travel, both twice a week, are considered as major confidence building measures between India and Pakistan.
Since last Saturday, the Pakistan Army has been shelling Poonch intermittently with 82 and 120 mm mortars.
On Saturday, an off-duty Army jawan and his wife were killed and four others were injured in Pakistani shelling.
