J&K: After 2 killings, security increased for non-native truckers

The authorities in Shopian have started increasing security for non-native truckers after the killing of a non-native apple trader on Wednesday evening.

The deceased trader, a native of Punjab, was shot dead at Tranz in Shopian. The driver, who had come with the victim to ferry apples to Punjab, was injured in the attack.

“We are moving them to the new fruit mandi,” said deputy commissioner of Shopian Yasin Chowdhary. “We are in the process of bringing them in and we are assessing the situation,” Chowdhary said, adding

there is no impact of the killings on the movement of apples out of Kashmir.

Sources said that the trucks have also been moved into the Hall Camp—where some Kashmiri Pandits working in the government are living—and the bus stand.

On Wednesday, militants also shot dead a labourer from Chhattisgarh. He was working at a brick kiln at Nehama in Pulwama. He was identified as S.A. Sagar. Sagar had been living in Kashmir for some time along with his family.

On October 14, militants shot dead a truck driver from Rajasthan at Sindushermal. He was identified as Sharief Khan.

According to a source, militants seized Khan and an apple trader and shot him dead some distance away.

Some reports said local residents tried to rescue the driver and the trader, but failed. After shooting the driver, the militants set the truck ablaze.

The attacks on the non-native apple traders and truck drivers have caused fear in south Kashmir and many growers are in a dilemma whether to export the fruit.

The police have put up posters of two militants—Raheel Magray and Syed Naveed Mushtaq—wanted in the killing of the Punjabi trader. Mushtaq is a former police official.

The killing of non-natives has posed a new challenge to the government, which has been trying to restore normalcy.