Jammu: After the abrogation of Sections 370 and 35A from the state of Jammu and Kashmir, every section of people in the valley has been badly affected due to the unsettled conditions there. The business sector has suffered a loss of around Rs 10 crore.
All trade-related sectors in the valley have been closed for about three months now. Business centers, shops, private factories, and daily laborers are also affected.
Apple farming is considered to be the backbone of Kashmir's economy which has been badly affected by prevailing conditions in the valley.
The killings of non-local drivers in the valley have largely affected the trade. The killings of non-state drivers have created an environment of fear among other drivers, which is why they are not willing to go to Kashmir Valley.
In this regard, when ETV Bharat spoke to a number of truck drivers they said, "Transport industry in Kashmir is already in declining mode and now the death of truck drivers has affected the industry".
The officials insist that the brutal campaign against the truckers' is aimed at blocking apple exports from the Valley.
The authorities blame separatist militants for the violence against the drivers. They say that the militants want to portray that the situation in Kashmir was completely disturbed and a "non-obedience movement" is underway against the Center's controversial abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A.
After the truckers' killing, Shopian police have guarded the Harpura area on Mughal Road and District Police Lines in Pulwama and Shopian Srinagar Road to prevent any untoward situation to happen. All non-state truckers are sent back by the police.
However, a few days back Jammu and Kashmir's DGP dilbagh Singh said that attack on people related to the fruit industry is the attack on Kashmir's economy. these attacks are not in favor of locals, I condemn such attacks''.
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