Police on Saturday foiled a protest of Batamaloo traders and transporters marching towards the official residence of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti at Gupkar in Kashmir capital Srinagar.The protestors earlier held a massive protest at Press Enclave against shifting of General Bus Stand Batamaloo to Parimpora.Police intercepted the protesting members of All Traders Joint Coordination Committee on the busy residency road. Several protesters were detained while police cane-charged others.The protesting traders were shouting slogans like “We want justice”
Some of the protesters fainted while facing the wrath of the police.They were shifted to hospital for treatment.Transporters and traders are up in the arms against government proposal to shift the historical Batamaloo bus stand to Parimpora. They have been protesting from past one month. The shopkeepers doing their business in Batamaloo frequently shut their business against government move while transporters have also resorted to ‘chaka jam’ for couple of days.“We have been continuously protesting against government proposal but PDP led by government seems to be callous towards our hardships. The government doesn’t care about us as the shifting of the bus stand will have serious economic implications,” said Muhammad Ashraf to news agency CNS.The protesting transporters and traders have been alleging that government under a well hatched conspiracy wants to deprive them economic benefits. (CNS)