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| Fresh attacks on drivers of oil tankers, | | Call for strengthening security apparatus | |
MISHU GUPTA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Aug 3: As Kashmir continues to boil with increasing anger and alienation on streets and scores getting killed by the day, one more serious dimension has surfaced that can only result in augmented trouble being faced by the people on many fronts. The Oil Tankers Association has decided to suspend the fuel supply to Kashmir Valley for an indefinite period. The reason: fresh attack on drivers and co-drivers by some unidentified miscreants in Awantipora of violence-hit Pulwama district, following which the Association took this decision and implemented it from today.
While situation in Kashmir has been grave and largely violent, the Oil Tankers have been facing such hindrances off and on at several violence ridden parts enroute their destinations. In the past two months some incidents have taken place in which the drivers have had to face wrath of angry protestors. This disrupted the oil supply for short period and was resumed thereafter. However, the drivers have now reported fresh incidents of attacks and disruption by protestors, the severity of which at some places have threatened their safety and safe passage. This is why the Tankers Association has for now decided to suspend the supply to parts of valley.
"We have stopped the loading of oil tankers since yesterday evening and no vehicle will proceed towards Kashmir Valley if sufficient security personnel were not deployed along the national highway," said Annan Sharma, president J&K Petrol Oil Tankers Association. The supply will remain suspended for indefinite period as our drivers have refused to ply their vehicles on highway, he explained.
As the protests are continuing unabatedly at many parts, including the National Highway, at least five drivers have alleged that they received grievous injuries in stone pelting incident while wind screens and headlights of 30 tankers were smashed by stone pelters at about 2:30 a.m on the intervening night of August 1 and 2. On account of such attacks and disruptions by the protestors, the drivers are nor ready to venture out and move ahead for apparent reasons of their safety, said Sharma adding that about 300 oil tankers stranded between Banihal and Jawahar Tunnel on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway were allowed to move towards Kashmir Valley at about 12:30 a.m on the intervening night of August 1 and 2.
Even though the convoy of tankers was escorted by two security vehicles, the angry mob of thousands people attacked the vehicles at Awantipora, the drivers said. Some have received grievous injuries making the owners and Association a worried lot. "One of driver has lost his eye while other got fracture in his arm…..we have appealed the administration for proper treatment of driver but as of now no medical relief was provided to them, the president alleged. However, one of the injured drivers has been admitted in Udhampur district hospital where he is being treated while other injured have been brought to Jammu and admitted in Government Medical College Jammu. This is the third time the Association has suspended fuel supply to Valley in past few weeks and fourth time since 2008 after the controversial Baltal land transfer row happened .
He further informed, "Even the depot manager in Kashmir Valley has refused to decant oil tankers as the workers are being threatened by the miscreants of dire consequences if they allowed any tankers to enter the depot."
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Pawan Kotwal said, "We have written a letter to Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, requesting to strengthen the security apparatus of tankers so that the drivers feel secure. The security is being stepped and they would resume their supply soon", he added.
He however, informed "Nearly 350 tankers are still stranded at various places on national highway in Kashmir Valley and efforts are being made to clear the stranded vehicles." |
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