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| Non-locals killings: Fruit growers fear further losses as truckers refuse to export apple from Kashmir | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Oct 28: The fruit growers in Kashmir fear for heavy losses as the non-local truckers are refusing to export apple from the valley fearing for their lives in view of recent killings.
For the last two weeks, the non-local drivers were targeted four times by the militants in south Kashmir. This has created a fear among non-local truck drivers.
On Saturday the Jaipur Transport Operators Association (JTOA) has issued an advisory to truck companies asking them to not send their vehicles and drivers to Kashmir till the central government ensures security.
Transport companies and drivers of the state have panicked after two truck drivers and a helper from the state were gunned down by militants in the Valley over the past fortnight.
While many have decided not to send any more vehicles to Kashmir, others have asked drivers, who are in Kashmir, to return immediately.
Gopal Singh Rathore, state president of JTOA has been quoted by the media, "The advisory has been issued due to the recent killings of drivers and helpers in Kashmir. We have asked truck owners not to send their drivers to the valley till the Centre gives them adequate security.
The advisory also states that transport companies should not take bookings for taking or bringing goods from Kashmir."
At the same time, the fruit growers fear heavy losses if the non-truckers stop from coming to the valley.
Chairman, Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers and Dealers Association Bashir Ahmad Basheer said it would further complicate the issues for the fruit growers if truckers refuse to come to Kashmir.
"Almost 70 percent truckers who export apple from Kashmir are non-locals. It will increase the crisis if they stop coming here and export the apple," Basheer said.
Another fruit grower from Shopian, Ghulam Ahmad said, "We are already facing huge losses. Government shall ensure security of truck drivers so that we could export our apple to outside markets."
Most of the trucks transport apples from Kashmir.
Nearly 6 lakh metric tonnes of fresh fruits have been transported out of Kashmir valley in the past three months, an official spokesman said. |
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