Kashmir: NC, PDP take out protest rallies to defy ban on civilian traffic on highway

Scores of NC leaders and activists led by party president Farooq Abdullah hit the streets at Athwajan on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway to defy the ban on civilian traffic on the highway for two days in a week. However, the protestors were stopped from moving ahead.

Hitting out at government for the suspension of civilian traffic on the highway, Dr Abdullah demanded immediate revocation of the ban.

“It is a wrong order. The authorities should use train service for the movement of security forces or allow them to move during the night so that people don’t have to suffer,” Dr Abdullah told reporters.

Similar protest rally was held by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and workers, who hit the streets at Athwajan on the highway. However, security forces deployed in the area stopped the protestors from moving ahead. “This ban on the movement of civilians is an injustice with the people of Kashmir. I think our fundamental right is being violated,” PDP leader and former MLA Ashraf Mir told reporters.

Normal life was on Sunday affected in the valley due to suspension of civilian traffic on the Kashmir-Jammu National Highway to allow free and secure movement of security force convoy, paralysing movement of people who were undertaking journey on the road.

The highway wore a deserted look with only security forces, state police and Army personnel deployed in strength to prevent people from moving towards the highway though it is said that security force convoy, which left Jammu, will enter Kashmir only in the afternoon.