Governor appeals for peace, expresses grief over loss of lives

Srinagar, Aug 12 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra, today made a fervent appeal to the people to maintain calm and expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and damage to properties in various parts of the state.

He expressed sympathy for the families who lost their near and dear ones in these unfortunate incidents.

In a televised appeal, the Governor attributed the prevailing unrest to unfounded suspicions and misconceptions and strongly urged upon the people not to heed mischievous rumours and support the efforts of the administration in maintaining peace and tranquility.

Referring to the movement of supplies and transportation of fruits, to and from the Valley, the Governor said, notwithstanding the sporadic attempts to create obstacles in smooth vehicular movement for a day or two, the Srinagar-Lakhanpur National Highway has been fully sanitised and round-the-clock traffic movement ensured.

For the past 12 days over 9000 trucks carrying fruits, merchandise, medicines, petroleum products, LPG cylinders and other essential commodities have been transported from both the sides, which includes 800 truckloads of Kashmiri fruit transported to the plains.

Mr Vohra saw no justification in the 'Muzzafarabad Chalo' call and said the fruit mandis all over the country were eagerly awaiting the Kashmiri fruit.

He appreciated the need for uninterrupted transportation of apple during the current fruit season and said he himself was monitoring the movement of fruit and essential supplies on the National Highway.

He also referred to the measures taken, to carry supplies in the convoys with police escorts, fitted with wireless sets having direct communication with Police Control Rooms, and mobile patrolling under the supervision of the District Superintendents of Police concerned.

He said the Chief Secretary has been asked to monitor the movement to ensure round-the-clock, smooth and uninterrupted flow of the supplies.

The Governor renewed his appeal for peace, saying this was imperative for carrying forward the development effort in all parts of the State.

In this era of progress and development, Jammu and Kashmir cannot afford to lag behind, he maintained.

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