Kashmir farmers hold valley-wide protests against stopping trucks on NH-44

ZT News Network

Srinagar: In first of their kind organized protests by Kashmir farmers, fruit grower, transporter and trading associations, thousands of farmers today hit the streets throughout the Valley’s Fruit Mandis against stopping of fruit trucks on Srinagar-Jammu highway.

Large protest was held at Srinagar Fruit Mandi at Parimpora, which was led by Bashir Ahmad Basheer, Chairman Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union President.

Similar protests were held in other parts of the valley, including Sopore Fruit Mandi and Shopian Fruit Mandi.

The New Kashmir Fruit Association, Sopore President Fayaz Ahmad Malik, Shopian President Mohammad Ashraf Wani, Pulwama President Abdul Hameed Malik, Anantnag President Mohammad Sadeeq Kennu, Kulgam President Ghulam Mohammad Banday, Baramulla President Mohammad Yousuf Dar, Chare-e-sharief President Bashir Ahmad Baba, Pachhar President, Abdul Ahad Ganai, Handwara President Mohammad Amin, Ganderbal President, Manzoor Ahmad Parra led protests in their respective areas.

Thousands of fruit growers, dealers, transporters and buyers also participated in the said protest under the banner of Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union.

The protesters were agitating against the constant stoppage of thousands of fruit laden trucks on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway NH44 for several days.

“DIWALI and CHATT PUJA are to be celebrated very shortly and all the fruit-laden trucks, which were loaded from Kashmir Valley, are stranded on Srinagar- Jammu National Highway. Our main request is to channel the traffic on regular basis so that these trucks are able to reach their destination on time”, said Bashir Ahmed Basheer.

“Now our apprehension is that once these trucks will reach together on their destinations market will fall and growers and traders will get heavy losses. So, we again request traffic authorities and Civil Administration to regularize the traffic and allow these trucks to travel in their respective destinations on daily basis”, he further added.

The farmers are aghast that even as promises are made by Civil Authorities and the Traffic Department things are not being implemented on the ground level.