To escape marriage, PoK sisters cross over to India 
The siblings, after much persuasion, were handed over to the Pakistan army
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Kalal-LoC (Nowshera), June 22
Fed up with continuous torture at the hand of their stepmother and to escape marriage, two sisters from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) crossed the Line of Control (LoC) yesterday.
After which, the minor siblings surrendered before the Indian troops at a forward post manned by the Maratha Regiment of Ace of Spade Division.
Seeking refuge in India, Kiran (16) and Sadaf (17) refused to go back after crossing over. However, the Army authorities showing goodwill gesture convinced the sisters to return back as it was not feasible to stay back in India.
The minor girls are daughters of Muhammad Ayub of Pandori village in Samani Tehsil of PoK.
According to sources, the duo told the Army that they were being tortured by their stepmother and were told to marry against their wishes. They also feared they would be treated the same way if returned back.
The troops at the post forwarded the information to their commanding officer who took up the matter with the brigade commander.
The brigade commander along with the commanding officer of the Maratha Regiment met the girls and listened to their sordid tale. The sisters were then taken to the unit headquarter of the Maratha regiment at Kalal, the sources added.
Sources further said the sisters were housed at the unit headquarter for about six hours and were convinced by the Army authorities to return back to their place.
The Army decided to take up the matter with their Pakistani counterparts for the safe deportation of the girls. The Army handed over the sisters to the Pakistani army at around 8.30 pm, the sources averred.
Meanwhile, a press statement issued by Ace of Spade Division, Rajouri read “Two Pak civilian females of Pandori village, who had inadvertently crossed over to our side of the LoC were handed over to the Pakistan authorities at a flag meeting in Nowshera sector.”