Srinagar, Apr 07 : The complete ban on civilian traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway began in the early morning hours of April 7.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration and Centre had announced that the national highway from Baramulla to Udhampur will be put out of bounds for civilian traffic on Sundays and Wednesdays till May 31.No civilian traffic would be allowed during the movement of the paramilitary forces.

The decision was made in view of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls after the deadly Pulwama  attack where over 40 CRPF jawans were killed in the suicide attack by Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant outfit.

A government official said the measure has been adopted to facilitate unhindered movement of the security forces’ convoys. The ban on the civilian traffic will be in force for the two days — Sunday and Wednesday — from 4 am to 5 pm till May 31.

It will be effective from Baramulla to Udhampur through Srinagar, Qazigund, Jawahar-Tunnel, Banihal and Ramban.

A government notification said in case of any emergency to use the passage by a civilian vehicle, the police and administrative officials will take decisions in line with the provisions of movement of civilian traffic during curfews.

The restriction on civilian traffic on the highway was announced two days after state police chief Dilbag Singh said a study group has been set up to suggest steps to strengthen the security along the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar highway following the Pulwama  attack. The restriction on civilian traffic during convoy movement has drawn ire from several quarters. (KNS) 

Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti likened Valley’s “story” to Greek tragedy even as she accused Government of India of treating people of Jammu and Kashmir as second class citizens.

Referring to the story of Danish Ali, the groom who had to seek permission for traveling to bride’s home in Doda, Mehbooba tweeted: ‘Kashmiris now need to seek permission to use roads that rightfully belong to them & pay taxes for. Seems like GoIs plan is to reduce us to second class citizens in our own territory. The valley’s story has all the elements of a Greek tragedy’.

Earlier, GNS had carried story regarding Danish a resident of Qazi Bagh Anantnag who was granted permission to travel on the Srinagar-Jammu highway on Sunday, one of the two days in a week when the government has banned civilian traffic on the thoroughfare to “secure” convoy movement.

The family, as reported by GNS on Friday, had to run from pillar to post to seek ‘permission’ for travelling to Doda to their son’s bride’s home.

Authorities allowed 12 persons to accompany the groom— Danish Ali— to travel but said the 12-member marriage party would travel in 4 vehicles and will be allowed to move only after “proper frisking and security check-up,” according to an order issued here by the additional deputy commissioner Anantnag.

“Danish Ali son of Showkat Ali Bhat of New Qazi Bagh Anantnag District Anantnag accompanied by 12 persons be allowed to move from Anantnag to Doda along with vehicle No’s JK03C-2171, DL7CF-6696, JK03E-2430 and DL3CAN-2779 in connection with marriage ceremony on 06-04-2019 and back on 07-04-2019 after proper frisking /security check (The permission is valid for two days only),” reads an order issued by the additional deputy commissioner Anantnag, a copy of which lies with GNS.

The family of Danish Nabi had to abandon preparations for the wedding scheduled on April 7 in wake of the government order. Reason: the bride’s home is in Doda district.

“Suddenly, we had to seek permission from deputy Commissioner Anantnag for travelling on the highway as the government order has banned civilian traffic on Saturday and Sunday,” they said.

While there are no changes in rules governing the marriage and deputy commissioner’s consent is not required to tie nuptial knot but Danish’s family had to seek the permission to allow the marriage party travel to the bride’s home in Doda via the Srinagar-Jammu highway on Sunday, one of the two days in a week when civilian traffic will not be allowed on the highway to “secure” the movement of convoy of government forces .

The family, leaving the preparations midway, had to move the application to deputy commissioner and move from one office to another for getting the permission on Friday.

The family first visited the office of Deputy Commissioner Anantnag and submitted an application for grant of permission to ply four vehicles on the highway to reach the bride’s home in Doda district. The deputy commissioner marked the application on additional deputy commissioner who in turn forwarded it to senior superintendent of police for the southern Kashmir district, seeking report positively to allow the family to ply four vehicles for the marriage ceremony on Sunday. (GNS)