More attacks on cargo, drivers: Fuel supplies to Valley suspended again

JAMMU: Following more attacks on their cargo and drivers, the Jammu and Kashmir Oil Tankers Owners’ Association, on Saturday, has yet again suspended ferrying fuel to the trouble-torn Kashmir.

Even a late evening meeting with the Jammu divisional commissioner Dr Pawan Kotwal failed to convince the panicked oil tanker drivers, who refused to ferry fuel to Kashmir.

At least 16 more tankers were damaged and two more drivers were injured by the violent mob in Qazigund on Friday.

Under such circumstances the drivers have refused to supply fuel to Kashmir,” said Anan Sharma, President of the J&K Oil Tankers Owners’ Association.

Unless the state government provides us foolproof security, we shall not resume supplies to Kashmir, he added.

It may be stated here that the panic over continued attacks on them, oil tanker drivers had staged a vociferous protest here on Friday.

“We cannot work under such an atmosphere where frenzied mobs attack our drivers,” said Khair Din Wani, president of All J&K Oil Tankers Drivers’ and Conductors’ Union.

Wani informed that over 400 tankers were damaged and 18 drivers suffered serious injuries ever since the turmoil began in Kashmir in the aftermath of Hizbul ultra Burhan’s killing on July 8.

On an average, the Association daily dispatched 30 lakh liters of petrol, diesel, kerosene oil and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) to the Kashmir valley and Ladakh in a fleet of 250 tankers.

We cannot work under such an atmosphere where frenzied mobs attack our drivers. KHAIR DIN WANI, All J&K Oil Tankers Drivers’ and Conductors’ Union president