Srinagar: Three trade bodies in Kashmir — the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), Kashmir Chapter, and Batamaloo Traders Association (BTA) — have condemned the reported attack on a Jammu & Kashmir-registered passenger bus in Haryana, calling for a fair investigation, strict legal action against those responsible and measures to ensure the safety of Kashmiri passengers travelling outside the Union Territory.
According to reports, the bus, travelling from Delhi to Srinagar with around 40 passengers, was stopped near a dhaba in Karnal late Saturday night when a group of men allegedly assaulted its driver and pelted the vehicle with stones and bricks, smashing its windows. An elderly Kashmiri passenger was reportedly injured in the incident.
The KCCI expressed concern over the alleged threats that Jammu & Kashmir-registered vehicles would not be allowed to operate in Haryana, stating that no individual or group should be permitted to intimidate passengers or restrict citizens’ movement on the basis of their regional identity or vehicle registration.
The Chamber urged the Haryana Government and police to conduct a prompt and impartial investigation, identify those involved and initiate strict legal action. It also called for a fair examination of reports that some passengers were detained following the confrontation, stressing that the rights of everyone involved must be protected.
The KCCI appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take up the matter with the Haryana administration and ensure a thorough investigation, accountability and adequate safeguards for Kashmiri passengers and transport operators travelling through other states.
The CAIT Kashmir Chapter also condemned the reported attack, saying that violence, intimidation or abuse directed at people because of their place of origin was unacceptable. It urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to raise the issue with his Haryana counterpart and called upon the Haryana Government and police to establish the facts and bring those responsible to justice.
“Disagreements over local issues can never justify violence, threats or hostility towards innocent passengers,” the CAIT Kashmir Chapter said, adding that such incidents should not be allowed to create mistrust or alienation among people from different parts of the country.
The Batamaloo Traders Association (BTA), meanwhile, described the incident as a serious violation of citizens’ safety and freedom of movement. It demanded that those responsible be identified, apprehended and punished in accordance with the law.
The association appealed to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir and the Union Home Minister to take cognisance of the incident and urged the Haryana Chief Minister to ensure a timely response and appropriate action.
The BTA also highlighted the difficulties faced by traders travelling between Jammu & Kashmir and other states, saying that high airfares leave many dependent on road transport for their business-related journeys. It called for measures to restore confidence in the safety of highways and commercial transport corridors.
The three organisations expressed solidarity with the affected passengers and stressed that the safety and dignity of citizens must be protected irrespective of their regional identity. They urged the concerned authorities to take preventive measures to avert similar incidents and uphold the principles of equality, mutual respect and national unity.
2 COMMENTS
Very unfortunate hooligans rules the roost humanity sense of civilized and compassion missing .
Very unfortunate hooligans rules the roost humanity sense of civilized and compassion missing .
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