Pathankot: Truckers harassed by cops, allege J&K miners

Pathankot, July 28

Scores of trucks and tippers containing legal mining material are being stopped at the Madhopur check-post on the Jammu-Pathankot road, allegedly by the Pathankot police.

Following this the vehicle owners have urged the CM to take steps to ensure they were allowed to do their trade freely. These miners claimed that the police were being backed by a powerful lobby of the Punjab mining industry. “We sell mining material in Punjab at comparatively lower rates which hurts the financial interests of the mining industry in Punjab. That is why they are not allowing our vehicles despite the fact that we have legal GST bills, A-forms and receipts of the Lakhanpur toll plaza. Clearly, the police are under pressure from a section of Punjab miners,” said Sarveshwar Sharma, a spokesman for the J&K Miners’ Association. SSP Surendra Lamba said, “We are acting on the recommendations of the Mining Department.”

District Mining Officer Gagandeep Singh said, “We are not stopping trucks. We are just checking their documents.” — TNS