Call to suspend Kashmir fuel supply withdrawn

JAMMU - The Jammu and Kashmir Oil Tankers Association late Wednesday evening withdrew its call earlier in the day to suspend fuel supplies to the Kashmir Valley.

The association said it took the decision following an assurance from the authorities that protection will be provided to drivers of petrol tankers, some of whom were allegedly assaulted by protesters in the valley.

“We have withdrawn our strike call after these assurances, but we may go in for strike if the promises are not honoured,” said Anand Sharma, president of the association, after the meeting.

This decision was taken after representatives of the association met Jammu Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal and Inspector General of Police A.K. Gupta late Wednesday evening.

“The authorities assured that miscreants would not be allowed to hurt our operations,” Sharma said.

Earlier in the day, he said that the tankers would not move to the valley because miscreants had assaulted drivers and damaged tankers.

“Protesters in Kashmir assaulted the drivers of the petrol tankers. Some of the tankers were also damaged by those pelting stones,” he said.

The protesters, who were angry over the killings of at least eight youth since Friday in firing by police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, have been defying curfew restrictions imposed to restore peace in the area.

Earlier, tanker drivers had suspended fuel supplies during the Amarnath land row agitation in 2008 when they came under attack in the Valley.