Srinagar, Sep 16 (KNO): Police on Tuesday detained several leaders of the Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) after the party staged a protest in Srinagar against the prolonged blockade on the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, which has left thousands of fruit-laden trucks stranded.
Scores of AIP activists led by MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed assembled at Press Colony and held a sit-in demonstration, raising slogans of “Save Apple, Save Kashmir.”
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), protesters carried placards, highlighting that the continued halt of apple consignments has devastated the Valley’s horticulture sector.
Speaking to reporters, Sheikh Khursheed said the delay in clearing trucks was causing heavy losses to growers. “Lakhs of families depend on horticulture for survival. Keeping apple consignments stranded for days amounts to an economic assault on Kashmir,” he said, urging authorities to intervene immediately.
However, several AIP protesters were detained during the protest.
The details shared by AIP revealed that those held include MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed, Chairman PAC Ishtiyaq Qadri, Party Spokesperson Firdouse Baba, senior leaders Ajaz Ahmad Lone, Professor Naseer Rather, DDC Khursheed Ahmad Dar, Spokesperson North Kashmir Adv. Shahnawaz Mir, former BDC Chairmen Showkat Ahmad Pandit and Bashir Ahmad, Adv. Muzaffar, and Sheikh Tariq.
Meanwhile, AIP’s Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi, in a statement, criticised the detentions, alleging that the government was “trying to silence those raising genuine concerns of growers,” and said the party would continue its campaign until the highway is cleared for apple trucks—(KNO)