Inconvenience continues as SFs backtrack on short notice

Civilian traffic allowed on day 4 of NH ban

JAMMU: Sharp criticism from all corners of the society, death of a patient not allowed to move, and a number of petitions seeking revocation of the latest restriction imposed on the movement of civilian traffic on Jammu- Srinagar national highway, seemingly meant nothing for the security forces, who took a sudden break from running its convoys on Wednesday, one of the two days in the week during which the road to Kashmir is designated exclusively for their safe passage.

On April 3, it was announced that the 270-km highway will be off-limits for civilian traffic twice a week -- Wednesday and Sunday -- from 4 am to 5 pm till May 31 to facilitate smooth movement of security convoys, which have been attacked by terrorists twice in past two months.

While the security forces continued running their convoys on the other five days of the week as well, the restrictions drew strong criticism from various quarters especially political parties, civil society and business community in the Valley.

A patient also died as his ambulance was stopped due to these restriction on Wednesday last, even as a number of petitions against the ban were filed in the courts, where the MHA defended the curbs.

After facing the inconvenience three times since April 7, people in the state have started getting used to the ban, and had rescheduled their engagements and travel on the NH in view of the curbs.

However, the CRPF, largely responsible for security in the State, decided against movement of troops and informed of the same only on Wednesday morning, helping no one.

With no movement of security convoy scheduled during the day, civilian traffic was allowed on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Wednesday, when it was supposed to be used exclusively by forces, authorities said.

"Normal traffic was allowed on the highway from Jammu to Srinagar this morning after the nodal agency, the CRPF, telephonically informed that there will be no movement of security convoy during the day," a traffic department official said.

Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) were allowed to cross Jakheni Udhampur between 0800 hrs to 1100 hrs after which Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) were allowed to proceed towards Kashmir, while no vehicle was allowed in the opposite direction.

However, a first-hand account of the highway showed up deserted road, as people had already cancelled their highway plan, keeping in view the scheduled ban for them.

A landslide also hit the highway at Anokhi fall near Ramban around 7 am which was cleared within two hours by the road clearance agency to ensure smooth movement of traffic.

The landslide was triggered by rains which lashed wide parts of Jammu and Kashmir including the highway Tuesday.

Today’s was not the first instance of civilians facing inconvenience. While traffic curbs on April 7, April 10 and April 14 had made them suffer officially, the civilian vehicles were also halted on the days in between as security forces ran their convoys on days other than Sundays and Wednesdays, too.

Suffering from terminal illness, Abdul Qayoom Banday of Doda died on April 10 when his ambulance was "asked to halt" near Lower Munda area while on way to Doda from Srinagar after being discharged by a hospital, despite clear leverage given to ambulances and patients.

The CRPF, however, ordered a "high-level inquiry" into his death and said it was "deeply anguished at the sad demise of Banday ".

A number of petitions were also filed in the high court challenging the ban.