KL Report
SRINAGAR
Jammu and Kashmir Government has said that in order to check the abuse of trade at Line of Control, the officials of Industries and Commerce Department, Customs Department, Security Wing of State Police are working at the respective Trade Facilitation Centres.
The government further revealed that opening of additional trade routes like Kargil-Skardu is under consideration of the Industries and Commerce department.
The government according to CNS said that X-Ray machines and sniffer dogs are employed at TFC’s for scanning of goods. “Adequate staff of Indian Reserve Police have been deputed for guarding the X-Ray machines. Trucks loaded with goods are brought in and out in the shape of a convoy guarded by Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and CRPF personnel,” the government said.
The government added that three persons namely Muhammad Shafiq Awan son of Abdul Aziz resident of Sara Muzaffarabad, Showkat-ul-Habib son Habibullah Phaloo resident of Saderkote Payeen Kashmir and Tariq Ahmed Sheikh son of late Abdul Hamid resident of Tawheed Ganj Baramulla were found involved in unlawful activities of smuggling of contrabands and have been arrested and are under trial in District Court Baramulla.
The query about the measures taken to check the abuse of trade and the persons found indulging in unlawful activities and smuggling of contrabands was raised by BJP legislator Ashok Khajuria in the Legislative Assembly.
The government said that Line of Control Trade has been started as a Confidence Building Measure between Pakistan administered Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir. The government said that this trade is custom free, however, the traders pay sales tax to the concerned department.
