Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti have slammed the Jammu & Kashmir government and Centre for putting a “complete ban” on civilian traffic for two days of every week on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
The national highway from Baramulla to Udhampur has been put out of bounds for the civilian traffics on Sundays and Wednesdays till May 31, a government notification said on Wednesday.
A government official has said the measure has been adopted to facilitate unhindered movement of security forces’ convoys. The move comes in the wake of the suicide attack on a CRPF convoy which killed over 45 personnel.
Slamming the government, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said the decision sounded like a diktat of Martial Law. “Last I checked, we were a democracy. But this sounds like a diktat of Martial Law. After bringing Kashmir to the brink, the administration is adamant on ensuring collective punishment for Kashmiris,” Mehbooba Mufti tweeted.
ALL ABOUT THE BAN
The ban on civilian traffic will be effective from Baramulla to Udhampur through Srinagar, Qazigund, Jawahar-Tunnel, Banihal and Ramban. The ban will be in force on the two days from 4 am to 5 pm.
In case of any emergency requiring passage of civilian vehicle, the police and administrative officials will take decisions in line with the provisions of movement of civilian traffic during curfews, the notification has said.
During his visit to Kashmir after the February 14 Pulwama terror attack targeting a CRPF convoy which had left 40 security personnel dead, Union home minister Rajnath Singh had announced that no civilian traffic would be allowed during the movement of the paramilitary forces.
The restriction on civilian traffic on the highway was announced two days after state police chief Dilbag Singh Monday said a study group has been set up to suggest steps to strengthen the security along the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar highway following the Pulwama terror attack.
(with agency inputs)
