Thursday 14th May, 2026
Srinagar, May 1: No civilian traffic was allowed on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway on Wednesday due to ban imposed by the administration to allow free and secure movement of security force convoy.
“It is a convoy day today therefore there will be no movement of public transport on the highway”, a traffic police official told UNI today.
Meanwhile, the traders association of Fruit and vegetable mandi, Parimpora, Srinagar, have called off their indefinite strike against ban on civilian traffic movement on the highway following assurance by the authorities and appeal by the civil society in view of the ensuing holy month of Ramzan.
Official said that only security force convoy would be allowed to ply on the national highway, the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country.
The administration has banned civilian traffic movement on the highway twice in a week on Sunday and Wednesday to allow safe and free movement of security force convoy. The step was taken after 44 CRPF personnel were killed in a fidayeen attack at Awantipora in Pulwama on the highway on February 14 and similar unsuccessful attempt at Jawahar tunnel.
However, the ban evoked sharp reaction from leaders of mainstream and separatist organizations besides civil society, traders, transporters besides common people. Three former Chief Ministers and number of other senior leaders of different political parties staged dharna on the highway against the ban, alleging it was a conspiracy to hit the economy of Kashmir. They questioned if there is no threat to security force vehicles plying on the highway on other days alongwith civilian traffic, why ban on Sunday and Wednesday.
A number of petitions were also filed in the High court against ban, describing it violation of Human Rights.
The traders and fruit growers alleged that due to ban and other restrictions, trucks carrying apple remained stranded on the highway for several days due to which fruit gets damaged. Similarly, vegetables and other perishable items being imported from different states are getting damaged due to the ban.
The Fruit and Vegetable traders of Parimpora mandi had announced to go on an indefinite strike against the ban alleging that they are suffering loss of crores of rupees. However, the strike was called off from today after assurance by the authorities to look into the matter besides appeals from civil society and common people.
We will be suspended our strike because of holy month of Ramzan, the traders said and threatened to resume their strike if their trucks carrying fruit, vegetable and other items are not allowed without any restrictions.
Meanwhile, prices of essentials, particularly vegetables and meat has witnessed sharp increase in the valley, where the prices of local vegetables are very high.
UNI