April 04
There will be a no civilian traffic movement on most part of the 300-km long National Highway on Sunday and Wednesday from 4 am to 5 pm every week till May 31, 2019, in view of the possibility of terror attack on security forces’ convoys during the Lok Sabha elections.
The prohibition on movement of civilian traffic on these two days of each week would be from Baramulla through Srinagar, Qazigund, Jawahar-Tunnel, Banihal and Ramban till Udhampur, an official government statement said.
The statement added that in the event of any requirement for local traffic movement for any emergency or for other purpose, the local administration and police would evolve necessary procedures for this as is done during curfew days.
On February 14, a CRPF convoy, on its way from Jammu and Srinagar, was attacked by a suicide car bomber on the National Highway in Pulwama district, killing 40 personnel. The Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed the responsibility.
After the attack, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, during his visit to Kashmir, had announced that no civilian traffic movement would be allowed during the convoy days.
On March 30, there was a possible ‘fidayeen’ (suicide) attack on another security force convoy at Banihal when an attempt was made to trigger an explosive-laden vehicle.
“Keeping in view the large movement of security forces on the national highway during the Parliamentary elections and associated possibility of any ‘fidayeen’ (suicide) terror attack on security forces’ convoys, the state government has notified specified days in a week for the movement of security forces from Srinagar to Jammu,” the state government statement said.
“To mitigate the inconvenience to the civilians by this move, the government has notified two dedicated days in a week i.e, (Sunday & Wednesday) exclusively for movement of security forces Convoys and there would be a complete ban on civilian traffic on the National Highway during these two days from 4 AM to 5 PM.
“This prohibition would be from Baramulla through Srinagar, Qazigund, Jawahar-Tunnel, Banihal and Ramban till Udhampur,” it said.