SRINAGAR: There has been strong reaction by political parties and also online in Jammu and Kashmir to the State government’s decision to ban civilian traffic on vital Baramulla-Jammu highway twice weekly to facilitate movement of security forces’ convoy.
An official spokesman in winter capital Jammu said, “No civilian traffic movement will be allowed along the highway on Sundays and Wednesdays between 4 am and 5 pm.”
He said that the decision has been taken “Keeping in view the large movement of security forces on the national highway during the Parliamentary elections and associated possibility of fidayeen terror attack on security forces’ convoys”. The restrictions would remain in force till May 31.
Elaborating, the spokesman said that there would be a “complete ban” on civilian traffic on the stretch of the 350-km highway on these two days from Baramulla through Srinagar, Qazigund, Jawahar Tunnel, Banihal and Ramban up to Udhampur.
The decision has been taken in the backdrop of the February 14 terror attack on a CRPF convoy at Lethapora (Pulwama) along the highway which left as many as 49 security personnel dead and several others wounded.
The spokesman said that another “possible fidayeen attack” on another security force convoy at Banihal took place on March 30.
Reacting to the move, former chief minister and president of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti tweeted, “Last I checked, we were a democracy. But this sounds like a diktat of Martial Law. After bringing Kashmir to the brink, the administration is adamant on ensuring collective punishment for Kashmiris.”
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said that since there are no alternate routes the road closure will shut all the access to the Valley.
Taking to Twitter, he said if the Baramulla-Jammu highway is closed everything will shut down in the Valley.
