SRINAGAR: Authorities in Forward Kathua, on the others side of the LoC, have arrested a young woman from Kerni village in Poonch for illegally crossing the working border without a visa. The woman, identified as Fatima, reportedly crossed the line on November 24 to marry a man of her choice, reports appearing in the Pakistani media said.
Fatima-a-resident-of-Kerni-in-Poonch-crossed-LoC-to-mary-Imran-a-resident-of-Kerany-on-the-others-ide-on-November-24-2024
Police conducted a raid in Kearnay village following reports of her presence, taking Fatima into custody and registering a First Information Report (FIR). Investigations revealed that Fatima crossed the LoC after being persuaded by Imran, a local resident, who took her to his home in Poonch district (The erstwhile Poonch in erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir has two districts with the same name separated by the LoC). Fatima disclosed that Imran, who works abroad with her brother, had been in contact with her via phone.
Imran was also arrested on charges of inciting the woman to cross the border and pressuring her to marry against her family’s wishes. Meanwhile, Imran’s family has approached the magistrate, seeking the release of both individuals.
The incident draws parallels with a case from 2023 involving an Indian woman named Anju, who crossed into Pakistan for love. Anju married Nasrullah, her Pakistani friend, in Upper Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Police in Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir) said Fatima is 28 years old and is resident of Kerni village. She is daughter of Faqeer Mohammad. They have registered a case in this regard. The village is just a stone’s throw from the LoC.
This area has had similar crossing many times. In October 2023, a 17-year-old mentally challenged teenager, Irshad Ahmad, was handed over to Pakistani authorities at the Chakan Da Bagh crossing in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir. He was intercepted by the Army while attempting to cross the Line of Control (LoC) into the Kerni sector. Civil officials from both sides were present during the repatriation.
