Srinagar, Jan 20: Nearly 47 days after a formal appeal from the Jammu and Kashmir government, allegations of extortion and harassment against livestock transporters at Punjab checkpoints remain unresolved.
At Shambhu and Madhopur checkpoints, traders report harassment, while the Punjab administration is yet to take any action against the matter.
The letter, sent from the office of J&K’s Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, Transport, Science & Technology and ARI Trainings had requested for a government-level meeting between the two states to resolve the crisis affecting the interstate movement of livestock from Punjab to J&K.
General Secretary of the Kashmir Mutton Dealers Association, Mehraj-Ud-Din while speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “Despite repeated representations, Punjab’s silence demonstrates complete disregard for transporters and traders, who continue to be bled dry by extortionists at the checkpoints.”
“Even after a formal government-to-government letter, there’s total silence. Trucks carrying livestock are being stopped, bribes demanded and the trade is suffering. Is this how inter-state cooperation works?” he said.
The illegal levies and repeated harassment have driven mutton prices in Kashmir to Rs 750 per kilogram, while locals report the same rates at multiple places across the valley.
“If this continues, prices will rise further,” Mehraj said.
The letter, as accessed by KNO, had proposed a meeting in Chandigarh between December 10–13, but no appointment was scheduled, no response was received and repeated reminders have gone unanswered.
“Sending a letter alone doesn’t help, it should have an impact. The government sent the letter just as a formality. They never followed up and now it seems Punjab isn’t taking them seriously either,” said another member of the association.
Kashmir traders have now made the letters sent to the Punjab government public, warning that they will escalate protests if Punjab continues to ignore the issue. “We have been patient. But it has been 47 days now. Punjab must stop this extortion and act immediately,” said another senior trader—(KNO)
