Hizb bans 'khaki' dress for drivers and conductors in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 18 (UNI) The Hizbul Mujahideen, the single largest indigenous militant group active in Jammu and Kashmir, today asked the drivers and conductors of public transport to ''defy'' a state government order directing them to wear 'khaki' dress.

In a statement here, Hizb spokesman Junaid-ul-Islam said the Jammu and Kashmir government had ''deliberately'' prescribed the 'khaki' dress for drivers and conductors of the private public transport in the Valley.

He said the counter-insurgency forces of the Jammu and Kashmir police -- the Special Task Force and the Special Operation Group -- were using 'khaki' uniforms and as such would create confusion among the people of the Valley.

''As such, using khaki dress would be dangerous for the innocent drivers and conductors. They should vehemently defy and disobey the state government order,'' the spokesman added.

He urged the transporters to ''resist'' and launch an agitation if the state government forced them to wear the 'khaki' uniform.

Significantly, the transporters had expressed reservations over ''obeying'' the state government order directing them to wear 'khaki' dress, saying the uniform would prove dangerous for them.

UNI