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| Mistrust reigns cross-LoC trade, custodial TFC under scanner | | | early times report
Srinagar,May16: Though the Enquiry into the complaint against Custodian Trade Facility Centre regarding violation of Standing Operating Procedures (SOP) regulating the cross-LoC trade between J&K and PoK at Salamabad, Uri has given clean chit to the official, Police, has, however, registered a case Under Sections 17, 21 and 40 ULA (P) Act 120-B RPC against him.
The then Custodian Trade Facility Centre (TFC) who was also Genral Manager District Industries Centre Baramulla, Muhammad Ashraf Wani was booked by J&K Police for his alleged role in hawala transaction through LoC. However, enquiry conducted earlier by the then Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Masud Samoon in 2009 in pursuant to the Government order no. 735-GAD of 2009 dated 06-06-2009 states that none of the charges leveled against Ashraf Wani, Custodian, TFC Salamabad, Uri, have been proved to be based on facts. The enquiry officer has even went to the extent of stating that "in fact the Custodian has been doing a wonderful job given the constraints of lack of staff, accommodation and resources. The custodian was alleged of releasing the consignments without authority due to which goods in transfer were not received indicating that the consignment might have reached to the militants as some traders are exporting goods of less value than what they are importing from across.
The officer was arrested by police station Sheergari Srinagar where FIR No. 01 of 2011 was registered against the officer. However, the official was granted bail by Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar on April, 19, 2012 after furnishing a bail bond to the tune of Rs. 50,000.
It is now more than four years since cross LoC trade was started with much pomp and show. After decades of demand for this venture, cross LoC trade generated a lot of expectations among the people living on both sides of the dividing line but mistrust has finally reigned in which has put a big question mark on the very survival of this trade. On various occasions, consignments went missing in the trading centres as the unknown claimants lifted the goods never to return their costs. Barring the initial bonhomie, the trade is being conducted by the close relatives only as the trust is altogether missing in this trade. Yet another irony is that the traders rather buyer and seller have never seen each other owing to the unlimited restrictions on the peoples’ movement across the LoC. On numerous occasions, traders protested for improving the trade mechanism but successive regimes paid little or no attention at all. Even some top notch bureaucrats and
ministers do not know about the fate of the trade currently. The problem with the state government is that it initiates something with much fanfare to raise public expectations but once started, the venture is left to fend for itself. It merits a mention here that modalities reached upon between the two countries on facilitating cross- LoC trade clearly mention that on reaching TFC, the
custodian arranges for unloading of the goods after verification of the seal and cargo manifest. The TFO verifies the cargo manifest along with related invoice copies and checks as to whether the goods declared in cargo manifest are under the permitted list of items. The goods are then examined by J&K police officials from security angle before being sent to the warehouses for rummaging. The copy of cargo manifest and invoices covering the cargo are retained by the TFO and after unloading the trucks are allowed to return on the same day. The consignment of plants/plant products is issued a 'plant health certificate' after inspection by the designated plant quarantine officer and on finding it free from pests, the consignment is released. However, if any live infestation is found, the consignment is rejected and sent back. The consignments are subjected to X-ray scanning and physical verification and if goods are found to be outside the list of 21 items, the same are returned in the vehicle that brought them. Despite the trade, mistrust reigns. police have found that some traders are exporting goods of less value than what they are importing and they suspect that militants are using the trade to route hawala money. |
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