Life hit in Kashmir again due to highway ban
Srinagar, Apr 10 (UNI) Normal life was again affected in the valley on Wednesday, due to suspension of civilian traffic on the Jammu-Kashmir National Highway, to allow free and secure movement of security force convoy, paralysing movement of people, who were undertaking journey on the road.
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court (HC) on Tuesday issued notices to the Union Ministries of Defence, Home Affairs and Transport, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the state government, directing them to respond to pleas, seeking orders to scrap the ban within 10 days.
Meanwhile, reports said that security forces were continuing their convoy movements on the highway on all days of the week. However, the highway from Baramulla to Jammu has been made off limits for civilian traffic on Wednesdays and Sundays.
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 the security force convoy, which left Jammu, will enter Kashmir only in the afternoon.
However, district authorities have appointed nodal officers to help people to cross the highway at important places.
Scores of NC leaders and activists, led by party Vice-President Omar Abdullah, who is the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday held a sit-in protest at Pantha Chowk on the Srinagar-Jammu national Highway, against the ban.
Abdullah and scores of other leaders blocked the movement of Army convoy on the highway for more than 20 minutes, to register their protest against the ban.
Abdullah also posted a video on micro-blogging site Twitter on Monday, of an Army convoy moving on the highway.
The Vice-President of the NC said that when if it is safe for security force convoys to move on Monday without closing the highway to civilian traffic, why is it not safe on Wednesdays and Sundays.
'Nothing proves the mindlessness of the order, more than Army movement on unsafe days,' Mr Abdullah said.
He said he is simply trying to highlight the point that the architects of the highway closure have made no application of mind.
'Somehow, this convoy on the highway is safe today, but it wouldn't have been yesterday and won't be on Wednesday,' he added.
The government, in an order, said that civilian traffic will not be allowed on Kashmir-Jammu national highway for two days -- Wednesdays and Sundays -- in a week for security reasons, between 0400 hrs to 1700 hrs, attracting severe criticism from political parties and general public. Only security force convoys will be allowed on these two days.
Image: UNI
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