Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, July 03: The Kashmir Mutton Dealers Association (KMDA) on Friday announced that the ongoing strike by livestock dealers has been called off following the Punjab government’s intervention, saying directions have been issued to the police to ensure that livestock vehicles are not stopped at checkpoints.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), KMDA General Secretary Mehraj-ud-Din said the association has been informed that the Punjab government has directed the police not to obstruct livestock vehicles at checkpoints.
“The strike has been called off. We have been told that the Punjab Police has been directed not to stop our vehicles at checkpoints. The livestock mandis have also been asked to resume supply,” he said.
He, however, said the association is awaiting formal written orders before reviewing the situation on the ground. “We are now waiting for the formal orders. After that, we will see how things move on the ground and whether the directions are implemented in letter and spirit,” Mehraj-ud-Din said.
He expressed hope that the movement of livestock to Jammu and Kashmir would resume smoothly in the coming days.
Notably, the strike, which continued for several days, had disrupted the transportation of sheep from Punjab to Jammu and Kashmir, triggering concerns over a possible mutton shortage in Kashmir, particularly during the ongoing marriage season.
The issue had prompted intervention at the government level, with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah earlier stating that he had taken up the matter with his Punjab counterpart, Bhagwant Mann, describing the action against J&K livestock traders as “unjustified.”—(KNO)
