‘Restrictions’ on passenger vehicles irk Balakote residents

The people living in villages ahead of Line of Control fence in Balakote area of Mendhar sub-division are irked over alleged “uninformed restrictions” on passenger vehicles in their area after a cross-LoC drug smuggling racked was busted by the police recently.

Zaheer Khan among other locals said, “On the very next daypost after the cross-LoC drugs smuggling racket was busted, the securityagencies imposed restrictions on passenger vehicles in an uninformed manner.”

   

They alleged, “Only some personal cars are being allowed tocross the LoC gates to move into the villages ahead of the fence. All othervehicles, especially passenger vehicles like Tata Sumo, have been barred fromplying in the area.”

As most of the people living in villages ahead of LoC fencedo not own a vehicle, they said, the restriction is making them suffer.

“The restrictions on movement of passenger vehicles havebeen imposed on both Basooni and Baryani Gali gates,” they said.

“We have to walk several kilometers to reach our villages inDhrati, Barooti, Panjani and Swala in the high risk forward zone. It couldbecome disastrous at any point,” they said.

A police officer, wishing anonymity, said that the issue hasbeen taken up with the army and “only those vehicles will be allowed to crossgates which will possess a valid permission”.

On being contacted, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mendhar,Sahil Jandyal, said that the issue will be immediately taken up with the armyas well as the higher authorities in civil administration, so that the peopledo not suffer.

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