News Now: Jammu: Thursday, May 30, 2024.
No recovery of weapons, fake currency at Salamabad,Chakkan-da-Bagh TFCs; 192 kg narcotics recovered’
The government has revealed that no recovery of weapons and fake currency was made at both the Trade Facilitation Centres (TFCs) located at Salamabad in Baramulla district’s Uri area and Chakkan-da-Bagh in district Poonch of Jammu and Kashmir when cross-LoC trade between India and Pakistan was conducted for almost ten years.
It, however, said that narcotics weighing over 192 kg, which were being smuggled to India from across the border, were recovered from the year 2013-14 to the year 2017-18 through Salamabad TFC in Uri.
The information provided by the Customs Preventive Division (CPD), Jammu, Commissionerate of Customs Amritsar through an RTI application seeking the reasons for the suspension of LoC trade between India and Pakistan through these two TFCs in 2019 was in complete contradiction to the official statement made by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on April 18, 2019, while issuing orders to suspend the LoC trade in J&K.
The MHA, in its statement, had said, “the Government of India has been receiving reports that the cross-LoC trade routes are being misused by the Pakistan-based elements for funneling illegal weapons, narcotics, and fake currency etc”. The LoC trade was suspended with effect from April 19, 2019.
“No such recovery (illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency) has been made in Chakkan-Da-Bagh (Poonch) and three cases of seizure of narcotics effected at Salamabad(Uri) including 114 kg in 2013-14, 12.105 kg during the year 2014-15 and 66.650 kg in 2017-18,” the Assistant Commissioner, CPD Jammu, who is also CPIO (Central Public Information Officer), said while responding to the queries made under RTI Act.
The officer further said, “Recovery of weapons and fake currency has not been made at both TFCs”. Asked whether the Government of India has any plans for resumption of the cross-LOC trade with Pakistan in near future, the CPIO said, “No such information is available with this office”.
With regard to the query about any investigation into reports that Pakistan misusing cross-LoC trade for funneling illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency, the officer said, “No such inquiry or investigation has been conducted by this office”.
It may be recalled that the LoC trade was meant to facilitate exchange of goods of common use between local populations across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. The trade was allowed through two Trade Facilitation Centres located at Salamabad in Uri and Chakkan-da-Bagh in Poonch. The trade used to take place four days a week. The Trade was based on Barter system and zero duty basis.
The trade was started in 2008 at Salamabad for the Uri-muzaffarabad route and Chakkan-Da-Bagh in the Poonch-Rawalakot route but there had been regular reports that Pakistan was sending narcotics, terror money, and illegal ammunition to the Indian side using this trade. There were about 1,700 traders registered at both Poonch and Uri trade points of J&K, who used to do business with their counterparts on the other side of the LoC on barter system. Fresh fruit, dry fruits and medicinal herbs were most popular trade items among others.
“However, reports have been received that the LoC trade is being misused on very large scale. It has been revealed that the trade has changed its character to mostly third-party trade and products from other regions, including foreign countries, are finding their way through this route. Unscrupulous and anti-national elements are using the route as a conduit for Hawala money, drugs and weapons, under the garb of this trade,” the MHA had said in its official statement.
It had further said, “During the ongoing investigations of certain cases by NIA, it has been brought out that a significant number of trading concerns engaged in LoC trade are being operated by persons closely associated with banned terrorist organizations involved in fuelling terrorism/separatism”.
“After the Pulwama incident, the Government of India has withdrawn the MFN status to Pakistan. Inputs have also been received that in order to evade the consequent higher duty, LoC trade is likely to be misused to a much larger extent,” it had further added.
The MHA had announced that a stricter regulatory and enforcement mechanism was being worked out and would be put in place in consultation with various agencies. “The issue of reopening of LoC trade will be revisited thereafter,” it had said.
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