Scores of Kashmiri drives operating on Jammu-Srinagar highway Friday held a protest here against assaults on their colleagues by violent mobs in Jammu.
The drivers assembled at the Press Enclave here and raised slogans against the administration accusing authorities for doing little to safeguard them in Hindu-majority city.
The protesting Kashmiri drivers said time and again when anything happens in or outside Kashmir they are made the first targets.
They said none of the drivers’ fraternity from Jammu was safe in Kashmir.
“No one has harmed them, we even went to them and offered help. But on the other hand we are always assaulted,” said Adnan, one of the protesting drivers.
“Many of our vehicles were torched and countless are vandalised, the phone numbers of our brothers there are switched off and we have no information of their wellbeing.”
The protesting drivers were also joined by one from Janipur of Jammu.
“We are treated like brothers here, it is painful that our brothers are being assaulted in Jammu who are just earning their livelihood,” he said.
The protesting drivers said that many of drivers are injured and their vehicles vandalized, torched “We are poor and we have bought these vehicles on Bank lones, how are we supposed to feed our families with our livelihood and life at stake,” they said.
The drivers praised members of Sikh community in Jammu who they said helped in saving their vehicles by allowing them to park in a Gurdawara there.
“Dozens of civilians die on daily basis in Kashmir, we don’t assault anyone, why are we targeted all over country?” asked Tariq, a driver.
“Instead, we today went to many drivers from Jammu here and asked them that they can come to our home and offered them money.”
The protesting drivers appealed the government to intervene and save the lives and vehicles of Kashmiri drivers in Jammu.