Students on roads, block highway
Listen To Article
Save Article
Print Article
Send Article To Friend
Write To Editor
Comment On Article
Demand separate bus service
MIR TARIQ
Bandipora, April 16: Demanding separate bus service, the students of various schools in this North Kashmir district staged protest demonstration on Wednesday and blocked Srinagar-Bandipora highway.Students from various schools on Wednesday morning took to roads at Saderkoot village, 20 kms from here and staged protest demonstration. The protestors blocked the Srinagar-Bandipora highway to press authorities to start separate bus service for the student community.
The protestors alleged that the administration has failed to arrange a separate bus service for the student community, who are disallowed to board local passenger buses by drivers and conductors."Drivers refuse to carry us in their vehicles from Saderkoot to Ajas and Safapora. We have informed the administration about the issue several times but they have not taken any action in this regard,” said Shakeel Ahmed, a 12th class student.He added, "The administration is compelling us to come out on roads and stage protest demonstration. It is our 4th protest in Saderkoot during past four months," said Ashiq Hussain, adding "The district magistrate promised us to provide two passengers buses to ferry students of the village to schools but he has failed to keep his words".The protestors blocked the vehicular movement on the Srinagar-Jammu highway for nearly five hours. DSP Sumbal, Dr Harmeet Singh visited the spot and assured the protestors that he will take up the issue with the concerned authorities. However, the protesting students refused to disperse unless the top district officials visit the spot. The students alleged that after the unsuccessful attempt of DSP to disperse them, he used mild force to quell their demonstration.A protestor Showket Ahmad said, "We don’t trust the tehsil level officials. We will listen only to Deputy Commissioner and he should visit the spot and address our grievances”.Denying the allegations of student, the drivers plying their vehicles on Saderkoote village said, “We run buses on this road from past 10 years. Every time we reach Saderkoot, students board the vehicle in large numbers. When the conductor demands fare from them, they refuse it and start quarreling with them. For this very reason, we don’t carry them in our vehicles”.Talking to Rising Kashmir Assistant Developmental Commissioner Bandipora said, "We have taken up the issue with the concerned officers and president bus service Bandipora. I will seek why the president of the bus operators has failed to start a separate bus service for the students"President Bus Service Bandipora Bihari Lal Pandith, said, “We are facing problems from the mini bus owners, who are also running on the route. They are not allowing us to start separate bus for students". "We are hold negotiations with mini-bus owners and it will take 2-3 weeks to start the separate bus service for students,” he added.