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Kashmir highway to remain open at any cost
The Jammu and Kashmir administration shall not allow anybody to disrupt traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only link between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country, Chief Secretary S.S. Kapoor said yesterday.
- IANS
- Published: 23:35 August 3, 2008
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration shall not allow anybody to disrupt traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only link between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country, Chief Secretary S.S. Kapoor said yesterday.
"We are not going to allow anyone to disrupt traffic on the national highway. Yes, we have taken the army's help. The highway is so long and we need constant vigil all along to keep it open. We are not embarrassed to have taken the army's help," he said.
"Army commanders at the highest level have assured us of their fullest cooperation and things are slowly getting back to normal," Kapoor said.
Under control
Admitting that the situation in Jammu and adjoining districts was still tense following violent protests over the Amarnath shrine land row, the chief secretary said: "Things are completely under control and there is no reason for any panic. Let the tempers cool down a little and things will start improving fast."
The state government last month backtracked on its move to allot forest land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board for providing facilities to pilgrims after there were widespread protests in the Kashmir Valley.
However, the move has been opposed by Hindu groups.
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