Border town Uri witness protest, threatens to snap power lines

Baramulla, Aug 8 (UNI) Threatening to snap power supply line to Northern Grid if the economic blockade of Kashmir continued, people at Border town of Uri today took to the streets demanding reopening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road for trade.

For the first time in about two decades, hundreds of supporters of different political parties, cutting across the party lines, took out a procession in the town in protest against economic blockade and attack on muslims and Kashmiri drivers in Jammu.

Raising slogans against government and communal forces, the processionists marched through different streets in the town and also blocked traffic.

A security force convoy had to wait for several hours as protesters did not allow any vehicle to ply on the main road.

A number of senior political party leaders addressing the processionists said people of the Uri will march Rajarwani and snap power to Northern Grid from the Uri power station if the blockade was not immediately lifted and muslims and Kashmiri drivers provided proper security in Jammu.

They also demanded reopening of the Jehlum valley road for trade with Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).

''Why should we remain dependent on communal forces in Jammu when we have a all weather road'', the leaders said.

UNI XC BAS NY BST1922