MUZAFFARABAD: Two teenage sisters from a poor family of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), who had strayed into India-held Kashmir reportedly after a domestic squabble, were repatriated by Indian authorities on Monday.

The repatriation of Laiba Zubair, 17, and her sister Sana, 13, took place through the Tetrinote-Chakan da Bagh crossing point in Poonch district along the Line of Control (LoC) at about 12:30pm, according to Yasir Riaz, assistant commissioner of Hajira, who was present on the occasion along with Pakistan army and police officials.

Both girls, who were given gifts and sweets by Indian authorities as a goodwill gesture, were examined by a doctor at Tetrinote terminal before they were sent to the neighbouring Abbaspur subdivision, where they live.

On Sunday, Indian media had reported that two young girls from AJK had inadvertently crossed over the LoC in Poonch sector and had been detained by the Indian army.

In a video clip shared by Indian officials on social media on Monday, the elder girl can be heard saying, among other things, they had “lost their way” and landed across the divide.

According to official sources and local journalists in Abbaspur, the girls’ father, who worked as a butcher, died some six or seven months ago of a heart attack and ever since his family, comprising his two wives and eight children, were facing a lot of hardship.

It was being assumed that both girls had left home in a fit of emotion on Saturday evening after some domestic squabble triggered by indigence.

However, in a “disappearance report” lodged by their brother with Abbaspur Police Station at about 10:30pm on Saturday, no such thing was mentioned.

From Tetrinote, the girls were taken to Abbaspur Police Station for completion of procedural formalities, before being allowed to go home.

Apart from police officials, Syed Tasawwar Hussain Kazmi, assistant commissioner of Abbaspur, also conducted an inquest into the circumstances that had forced the girls to take such a dangerous step that could have even cost them their lives.

“In fact, theirs is a heartrending story… After the death of their father the family was left destitute and the penury and deprivation would trigger squabbles at their small home almost daily.”

“It’s because of this miserable situation they took this step and I think the whole society is responsible for what they have done,” he remarked, expressing the hope that the state and affluent members of society would take care of them in future.

The unmarked LoC that splits the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir often witnesses inadvertent crossings by villagers on either side as they cut fodder, herd cattle or pluck medicinal plants.

However, despite an agreement between the two sides for early repatriation of the inadvertent crossers, Indian troops have on several occasions shot dead such people.

In the latest such incident, the Indian army had shot dead a 40 years old differently-abled AJK resident, Kamran Nazir Chak, after he had inadvertently crossed the LoC in Pandu sector, instead of taking him into custody.

It was why many people who had expressed apprehensions about the safety of the two girls heaved a sigh of relief on their return.

“It is fortunate that for once #IndianArmy has not doubted these minor girls as terrorists, something they have been habitual of doing in the past. Thank God the young girls are back to their homes contrary to widespread fears,” tweeted Naila Altaf Kayani, a famous Kashmiri social activist.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2020