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| Deadlock in LoC trade ends, drivers return to native places | | Trade to resume next week | | ET Report
BARAMULLA, Feb 12 : The 25 day deadlock in the trans LoC trade came to an end today as truckers from Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir returned to their native places. However, the PoK driver arrested on charges of transporting narcotics from across the border to this side of LoC continues to remain under detention. Authorities told Early Times that 48 truck drivers of PoK stranded over here were sent to their native land while as 27 truckers of this side held up in PoK came back to their homeland. The release of truck drivers on both the sides of LoC has paved the way for the resumption of business ties that is formally going to start from next week. "Forty eight truck drivers of the other side held up at Salamabad-Uri were sent to their homes along with the truck while as 27 truck drivers of this side held up across the border came back. There will be a meeting between Trade Facilitation Officers (TFO) and as such the trade activities would be resumed," said Hilal Ahmad Turki, General Secretary, Salamabad-Chakoti Trade Union. Expressing happiness over the end in deadlock, Hilal said that the formal trade activities would start from next week. He said the Salamabad-Chakoti Trade Union will provide legal aid to the arrested truck driver so that he gets justice at the end of the day. He added that it has been decided to hire services of an advocate who will fight the case of arrested driver, Mohammad Shafi Awan.
"Before resuming the trade activities a meeting of trades of both the sides would be held on the zero point of LoC so that no untoward incident takes place in future. We will carry out the registration of the traders and drivers so that no mischievous person is enlisted and there would be no accountability," said Hilal.
Asif Lone, Chairman Salamabad-Chakoti Trade Union Cross LoC Trade said decks were cleared after the authorities from this side received a fax from the other side that truckers can be sent back to their respective places.
Lone said following the nod from other side the Home Ministry gave a green signal for the deportation of PoK drivers and reception of drivers from this side. "It is quite disgusting and disturbing that seizure of a quintal of brown sugar led to the stalling of trade activities between the traders on either side of LoC. It is our request to governments on either side to install the full body scanners so that nobody does mischief in future. This would ensure that trade activities go on," said Asif. It would be in place to mention here that on January 17 security agencies seized brown sugar packets worth 100 crores from a truck at Salamabad-Uri, which was on its way to India. The driver of the truck, hailing from other side of LoC was detained by police. |
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