Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Feb 6: The Ravi river flowing in the middle of Punjab and J&K State in Kathua district is commonly used for smuggling of goods and bovine animals. The smuggling of cement, iron and other valuable items through heavy loaded trucks via Jarai village is going on frequently without any fear from any concerning department.
Two such matters came to light during last two days when a heavy truck loaded with cement passing through smuggling route of link road of Jarai rolled down in nearby Khud. But some other trucks on the way narrowly escaped which were loaded with cement during the wee hours, sources said.
Sources said the movement of heavy loaded vehicles from the area is also in violation of orders of Excise Commissioner who has issued orders few months back banning heavy loaded trucks through small Toll Post after a deputation of cement dealers met with Excise Commissioner demanding a ban on movement of heavy loaded trucks on this road and Toll Post which has no weigh bridge.
Another incident of smuggling of bovine also came to light this morning when three mini trucks loaded with 15 bovine animals crossing the Ravi river from Punjab to Kathua were trapped in deep water. The local people informed the police and it seized the vehicles. The local people told that the smuggling of goods and bovine is going on frequently despite there were post of Excise and Taxation Department and Police Post in the area. But only innocent people were stopped and smugglers were given safe passage. Jatinder Singh a local resident of the area alleged that the smuggling of goods in heavy loaded trucks is going on during the mid night as a routine practice . He said the officials on all the check posts on the route are hand in glove with the smugglers and if poor people come with a bag of cement or fertilizer or seed by farmers , the Government agencies become alert and stop them. The local people demanded stopping of the movement of loaded trucks as the link road has also been damaged with the heavy rush of loaded trucks and local people are facing problems even to walk on the road.
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