Killing of non-locals: Hundreds of trucks stranded at Qazigund, Hirpora in South Kashmir

Drivers say ‘traffic authorities not allowing them to move towards Srinagar’

Srinagar, Nov 01 (KNO): As the transition of Jammu and Kashmir State into two Union Territories (UTs) coupled with killing of at least ten non-locals in past few weeks in South Kashmir parts, the authorities have halted hundreds of trucks at Qazigund on Highway and Hirpora village of Shopian district.

Witnesses told the wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that hundreds of trucks were shifted to “safer zones” identified by government in South Kashmir.

“These truckers were directed to leave the habitations and move beyond Hirpora on Mughal road,” said Javaid Ahmad, a local resident from Shopian, adding, the trucks loaded with goods and perishable items coming towards Kashmir Valley were also halted outside Hirpora.

Witnesses said that security forces patrolled the villages in last few days to evacuate the truckers to safer zones after the killings.

An official said that the decision to keep trucks and trawlers out of habitation was keep them safe ahead of transition of State into two Union Territories on Friday.

The area witnessed complete halt of trucks and there is no activity related to ferrying of apple boxes in last two days in the area, locals said.

Muhammad Ayoub, a resident of Kulgam told KNO that there is no movement of trucks after the killing of five non-locals in Katrasoo village here. He said, “No one dares to ply his truck on roads here, after the killings”. 

Suhail Ahmad, a truck driver by profession from South Kashmir’s Pulwama district also said that he had been sitting idle from last one week after restriction on movement of trucks here. “Traffic authorities are not giving us any solid reason as to why we are stopped for the past three days,” he said.