Jammu, Aug 25: The Jammu and Kashmir Petrol Tanker Owners Association on Wednesday decided to go on ‘indefinite strike’ across the state, in protest against what they termed as government’s failure to provide adequate security to the tankers carrying oil supply to Kashmir valley.
With the announcement of state-wide indefinite strike, around 1560 oil tankers in Jammu and Kashmir regions would stop supply of petroleum products to various parts of the state from today morning.
However, the representatives of the striking tankers owners have been invited   for talks by the divisional commissioner (Jammu) Dr Pawan Kotwal to end the stalemate. The talks will take place tomorrow morning in Jammu, sources said.
Anan Sharma, state president of the oil tankers owner association, told Greater Kashmir that there was no end to the attacks on the tankers carrying supply to the valley which has spread panic among the drivers and conductors.   
“On an average Ten to twelve oil tankers are being attacked and damaged every day , while their drivers are being beaten up ,” Sharma alleged, while saying that all assurances of the government of providing full security to them has proved as hollow. “The police   vans accompanying the tankers themselves flee away to take shelter when protesters attack the tankers”, Sharma alleged.
He said that army authorities had also given us assurance of security cover but they too have failed to fulfill their assurance.
“We were assured that army will provide security from Badami Bagh to onward journey up to their respective destination of each oil tanker. However, no one from the army turned up to provide security cover to these tankers,” he alleged.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
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