Jammu, July 9: The Jammu and Kashmir Oil Tankers Association has once again suspended fuel supply to Valley alleging attacks on tanker drivers by some miscreants on Srinagar-Jammu highway.
The Association, held an emergency meeting here on Friday, to discuss the security concerns shown by the drivers plying their vehicle on the route, Anan Sharma, president of the Association told Greater Kashmir.
He said that despite assurances by the government, some of the drivers were attacked by unidentified persons near Sumbal on Wednesday. “We have decided not to ply our vehicle on the route till situation improves”, he added.
According to Sharma the decision was mandatory to secure the lives of the drivers as fresh attacks were reported from three places, Bemina, HMT Chowk and Sumbal. He said that three drivers have suffered injuries and one of them has lost his eye
Association also accused army troopers for attacking and threatening the drivers. Troopers smashed the windowpanes of the truck at Ganderbal injuring a driver.
“We have been forced to take this decision as we are feeling insecure. Either administration should give us protection or we will not resume the supplies”, said Sharma.
He identified the injured drivers as Paramjit Singh, Harjeet Singh and Mahesh Kumar.
He said that Tanker Association has been caught between the police and protesters as both of them are harassing the drivers.
Pertinently, on June 30, the association had also suspended the fuel supplies to the Kashmir valley but following the high level meeting with the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu and assurance by the government that security escort will be given to the vehicles, the Association had suspended its agitation.
This is the second time since 2008 that fuel supplies have been suspended. Earlier, the supplies were suspended during the Amarnath land row agitation.
 
 

Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST