Srinagar, Nov 27 (KNO): Days after the Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Association warned of a “fresh price hike” over alleged extortion and harassment at Punjab checkpoints, the Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday assured swift action with a joint high-level committee scheduled to take up the matter with Punjab authorities after the December 2.
Mehraj-ud-Din Ganai, General Secretary of the Association, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that the delegation recently met senior, NC leaders and government officials who assured them of “immediate intervention.”
“They assured us that a high-level committee will be formed and on December 2 (Tuesday), a delegation including Nasir Aslam Wani, the concerned Minister, Satish Sharma and an MLA, along with members of the mutton dealers’ association, will proceed towards Punjab to hold talks with the Government there to resolve the issue,” Mehraj said.
He said, they are hopeful the delegation will meet Punjab Government officials and the issue will be resolved.
Notably, the development comes after weeks of tension, with dealers alleging “extortion” of Rs 10,000–15,000 per truck at Shambhu and Madhopur checkpoints. The association had earlier set November 27 as the deadline for government intervention, warning that mutton prices could soar to Rs 800 per kg if the issue persisted.
Earlier this year, similar harassment led to the suspension of livestock imports and the death of over 50 sheep due to delays and heat stress.
With the government now stepping in, the dealers have expressed “cautious optimism” but also warned that unless ground-level extortion stops, they will be forced to pass on the losses to consumers—(KNO)