Srinagar: The proposed move of the government to shift Batamaloo Bus Stand to Parimpora sparked protest and shutdown in and adjoining areas of Batamaloo.
The transporters and traders who have been opposing the government move staged a protest on Thursday while police swung into action and charged the protesters with canes, leaving over a dozen of the protesters wounded.
Earlier, on Wednesday night, transporters and traders foiled the government move of shifting the Bus Stand to Parimpora. A large contingent of police had arrived at the Stand on Wednesday night; however, transporters and traders spent the whole night at the bus stand.
The traders accused the state government of inflicting miseries on people associated with General Bus stand Batamaloo by shifting the same to Parimpora which is a flood prone area.
“A large number of people like labourers, hamals, and mechanical workers are associated with this bus stand, and if it is shifted the move will render them jobless besides near about 5000 shopkeepers will get affected due to it,” Mohammad Ashraf said.
He said that the government’s pronouncement of general bus stand being major reason for traffic jams in city is not true adding, “The former Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed had promised them of providing passage through Tattoo ground but till date they are waiting for this promise to be fulfilled which would ease up traffic movement in city,” he added.
“If government goes ahead with the decision, then the business community will have no option other than to launch stir,” protesters threatened
