Jammu and Kashmir highway lockdown begins today, traders say huge loss for business

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 terror attack where over 40 CRPF jawans were killed in the suicide attack by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).

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 terror attack.

The restriction on civilian traffic during convoy movement has drawn ire from several quarters.

WHAT JAMMU AND KASHMIR FEELS ABOUT THE BAN

Mohammed Aklaq, a shopkeeper, was not at all impressed with the ban on civilian traffic. Aklaq said he and the other shopkeepers are "on the verge of losing business" due to the ban.

"We are on verge of losing businesses. We could be closing down our shops soon as there is no business," Aklaq told India Today TV.

"We used to make Rs 15, 000 per day, now we barely make any money. With traffic restrictions, we will face a further loss," another shopkeeper said.

MUFTI, OMAR SLAM GOVT'S FAILURE

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti called the move "madness" and hoped that the order is revoked immediately

"There is no method to this madness. I hope the order is revoked immediately because I can't imagine this working out practically. Seems like Guv admin wants to punish people by depriving them of simple things like access to roads," Mehbooba Mufti tweeted.

Mehbooba Mufti went on to compare the civilian traffic ban move by the Centre to "Martial Law".

"Last I checked, we were a democracy. But this sounds like a diktat of Martial Law. After bringing Kashmir to the brink, the administration is adamant on ensuring collective punishment for Kashmiris," Mehbooba Mufti said.

National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah, in a series of tweets, said the order is a "glaring admission of failure to manage the internal security of Jammu and Kashmir".

"Never before in 30 years has the national highway ever been closed for civilian traffic like this. It's a glaring admission of failure to manage the internal security of J&K," Omar Abdullah posted on Twitter.

Omar Abdullah said there has to be a "better and less people-unfriendly way of protecting forces" using the Jammu and Kashmir highway.

"Patients will not be able to reach hospitals, students will be deprived access to schools, employees won’t be able to reach work and the list goes on & on. There has to be a better, less people unfriendly way of protecting forces using the highway.