Jammu, August 21 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, amidst continued economic blockade and assaults on Kashmiri drivers by Hindu activists, the fruit growers have decided to go on an indefinite hunger strike on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road if the situation does not improve in next few days.

The President of Fruit Growers Coordination Committee (FGCC), Ghulam Rasool Butt said that Hindu rioters attacked Kashmiri drivers at Samba two days back. A fruit laden truck was burnt while six others were damaged, he added.

He said when the rioters were damaging the trucks, policemen present at the site acted as mute spectators and allowed the rioters free hand to attack the truckers. “The policemen only acted after seeing the rioters trying to lynch the drivers,” he said.

Nazir Ahmed Bhat, an office-bearer of Baramulla Transport Company, said that Hindu activists damaged windowpanes of half a dozen fruit laden trucks. "Our trucks plying on the highway are not safe but he government is not providing any security to them to ensure smooth passage of trucks to Delhi and other parts of India”, he said.

While condemning the attack on Kashmiri truck drivers, President of United Fruit Growers Association (UFGA) Irfan Hafiz Lone threatened that the valley fruit growers of the Valley would start indefinite hunger strike on Srinagar Muzafarabad road if the blockade is not lifted and safe passage is not provided to Kashmiri drivers and their vehicles in next few days.

Asserting that agitation should act as an eye-opener for India, Irfan said that India, which claims to be one of the biggest democracies, should respect people’s will. “The government of India should immediately open Srinagar-Muzafarabad road so that Kashmiri fruit growers could transport their fruit to other parts of world”, he said.