Rattled by threats, Pak guests at Hyd fair want to return

, Jan 18: Threats from Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP, have rattled Pakistani guests who have come here to attend 'Numaish', Hyderabad's biggest fair. The BJYM threats came in the wake of the escalation of tension between India and

over the recent ceasefire violations at the

that saw beheading of an Indian soldier last week.

Javed Iqbal, a cloth merchant from Lahore, said he along with some other people from his country was preparing to leave India on Friday due to security reasons. Sources said the fair organisers could not guarantee safety to the Pakistani guests, making them feel all the more rattled.

One hundred and fifty doctors have also arrived here for the conference and most of them are also worried about their security. Some of them are also accompanied by their families.

The situation turned more serious after India disallowed nine Pakistani hockey players from participating in the inaugural Hockey India League and also problem was faced over fielding the Pakistani women's cricket team in the World Cup starting later this month. Pakistan also suspended a bus service between Poonch and Rawlakote and stopped trucks carrying Indian goods from entering its territory.

One of the visiting Pakistani doctors in Hyderabad said it was unfortunate that the relation between the two countries deteriorated sharply, adding that the common people had no role to play in the flare-up and the Indians must understand that. The delegates said they were closely watching news channels to follow the latest developments in the bilateral relations.

The doctors said initially they were told that they were not required to report to the police but after they reached India, they were asked to sign residential permits because of the changed circumstances.

Hyderabad Police sources said 635 Pakistani nationals reached the city last year and out of them, 580 left the capital on various dates. At least 55 of them still continue to stay here, the sources said.

OneIndia News