Outrage Brewing Up in Jammu & Kashmir as Administration restricts Movement on Jammu-Srinagar Highway

Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a lot of uproar and the regional political bigwigs have begun to issue stringent statements against the centre as the authorities today imposed a ban on the civilian movement on the vital Jammu-Srinagar highway, which is often touted to be the valley's lifeline.

Under the ban, the civilian movement on the 270 km long highway has been restricted to two days a week (Sundays and Wednesdays) until 31 May 2019 so as to facilitate a safe passage for the security convoys.

Students, tourists, government employees will be allowed to use the highway though, and also arrangements have been made to facilitate the system in lieu of any medical emergencies.

The decision comes in the aftermath of the terror attack on a CRPF convoy on the highway in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on February 14, which left 40 CRPF personnel dead, besides another attempt to target a CRPF convoy with a car bomb on the highway near Banihal in Ramban district on 30 March 2019.

Army, police and CRPF personnel have been deployed at all intersections leading to the highway to ensure that civilian traffic does not interfere with the movement of convoys of security forces, officials said.

Regional political parties, have condemned the development as anti-people and undemocratic.

Speaking to the media about the ban, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said, "We have every right to use these roads. I appeal to everyone to defy this ban." Mufti also took to twitter to vent her disgruntlement.