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| Banking facilities for cross LoC trade could be used for anti-national activities | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
srinagar, Mar 20: The centre government has put on hold the proposal for establishing banking facilities for cross LoC trade as there are apprehensions that it could be used for promoting militancy in Kashmir and anti-national activities.
Sources said that National Investigating Agency had seized records pertaining to cross LoC trade from the Trade Centre at Salamabad Uri a year ago.
The NIA sleuths headed by IG Vinod Shukla and SSP BS Negi seized record in December 2016 pertaining to cross LoC trade from Trade Centre at Salamabad Uri.
"The NIA raided there after got some inputs that some of the traders were misusing trade to help militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir," a senior police official said.
The official said the NIA has asked the Union Home Minister not to start the banking facilities and put the proposal on hold.
"The investigation has not been completed but the External Affairs Ministry has been told not to proceed in the proposal for establishing banking facilities for cross LoC trade," the official said. "There are apprehensions that militancy and separatists could use the banking facilities for promoting militancy and anti-national activities," the official said.
A senior official of the Industries and Commerce Department said the state cabinet has endorsed the proposed to provide banking facilities to cross LoC traders.
He said any sort of deliberations on LoC trade are discussed with Pakistan by the government of India's External Affairs ministry and Home department.
"It is under process between India and Pakistan governments. In view of Uri attack, it got delayed. Then NIA's crackdown has forced the government to put it on hold as there are chances it could be used for anti-national activities," he added.
The cross LoC trade began in 2008 through Salamabad Uri as a confidence building measure between India and Pakistan. The trade has not flourished over the years in absence of the banking facilities. It is running through barter system where traders are only able to exchange of goods without money transactions.
An official of Industries and Commerce Department, there are 367 traders registered to do trade from Salamabad, Uri. "These traders have been demanding establishing of banking facilities."
The official, said J&K government had recommended for opening of seven more crossing points for the trade. |
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