Over 10,000 people denied cross LoC permits

Srinagar, Oct 7 (IANS) Over 10,000 people were not recommended for travel through the Line of Control (LoC) on either side of Jammu and Kashmir, the state government said on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed said 1,179 LoC permits are pending for verification at various stages on the Indian side of Kashmir.

"Nearly 1,179 LoC permit applications of Indian nationals and 2,736 permit applications of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Pakistan nationals are pending verification purposes," Sayeed said in a written reply in the assembly.

He said 7,157 passport verifications are also pending disposal.

"From January this year to September 17, 2015, nearly 135 passport verifications have been sent by state police’s Criminal Investigation Department as ‘Not Recommended’.

"Till the commencement of LoC travel to September 17 this year, 5,675 Indian Nationals and 5,087 PoK/Pak nationals have not been recommended for travel via LoC for not being covered under the extant policy," Sayeed said.

The state government, however, denied disclosing details of people denied passports and cross LoC permits and reasons thereof.

The cross LoC bus service was started as a confidence-building measure in April 2005 to reunite the divided Kashmir families on both sides of the LoC, which bifurcates the state into Indian and Pakistan-administered parts.