Normal life has been crippled in several areas of Jammu and Kashmir due to strike call by oil tankers’ association. The association went on an indefinite strike on Saturday, alleging attacks on their vehicles by stone pelting mobs in Kashmir. PTI reported that long queues of vehicles were seen outside the petrol stations across the Jammu region as people were making desperate attempt to refill the fuel tanks of their vehicles before the petrol pumps turn completely dry. To manage the heavy rush, some petrol pump operators had to take help of police.
The association had said that not only supply of fuel to petrol pumps was stopped, but supply to armed forces including those deployed at Siachen glacier was snapped. The Kashmir Observer reported that the All Jammu and Kashmir Drivers and Conductors Union decided to stop fuel supply to Kashmir from Saturday, until state government provided security to oil tankers and the drivers.
The association members alleged that the oil tankers were the main target of protesters in the Valley. About 55 tankers were damaged within two days in the region. On Friday, 14 tankers and 10 trucks were damaged and drivers beaten by mobs, The Kashmir Observer quoted an office bearer of the association as saying.
There are about 1800 petrol tankers in J&K. The Statetimes.in reported that a tanker operator, who was roughed up by a mob, as saying that he was beaten up near Pompore on the highway in Anantnag district. He was also forced to raise anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans.
The people in Jammu fear that with the truckers association also going on strike, the prices of essential commodities would increase in the region. “We have not received fresh vegetables and other supplies today, we fear that the prices might increase if the scarcity continues,” a greengrocer was quoted by PTI as saying.