Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 16: For the vested interests of some odd businessmen and self-styled peace activists, the government is compromising national security and is spoiling younger generation of the State by not stopping cross-LoC trade. This trade, as per reports, has become biggest sources of funding terror in J&K and smuggling drugs in this state and other parts of the country. Today Team Jammu sought personal intervention of Governor N N Vohra to protect younger generation of J&K from the deadly menace of drug addiction by stopping cross LoC trade. Team Jammu observed it cross-LoC trade is supply line of smuggling heroin, charas and other narcotic drugs from across the border.
Team Jammu expressed surprise that international drug lords under the garb of cross LoC trade are indulge in smuggling drugs to this side of the border but authorities have failed to take action due to indecisiveness and vote bank politics of the successive state governments.
Earlier in the month of July 2017, the National Investigation Agency had established that trade across the Line of Control between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are being used to finance terrorist activities in the Valley. According to sources fraudulent transactions coming to Rs. 2,100 crore at the Salamabad-Uri trade point and Rs. 670 crore at the Chakan Da Bagh-Poonch point since cross-LoC trade began in 2008. The NIA officials, sources said, had claimed that a major portion of these proceeds were diverted to fund terrorist activities in the valley. Cross-LoC trade, a confidence-building measure between India and Pakistan, and takes place four times a week through the Uri-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote routes. The trade has so far touched approximately Rs. 3,500 crore, with the Indian side exporting goods estimated at around Rs. 1,900 crore while receiving goods for Rs. 1,600 crore from Pakistan. As of now, there are around 300-odd traders registered for the trade, down from close to 600 in 2008. |
