Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Dec 8: The police seized four vehicles smuggling 25 bovine animals to Kashmir via Mughal Road from Rajouri side last mid night while this road was officially declared opened for traffic today.
Official sources told the Excelsior that massive smuggling of bovine animals took place during last two nights via Mughal road despite the fact that there are several Nakas of the security forces along this road from Surankote and Thanna Mandi side up to Pir Ki Gali and Heerpur /Dubjan. Evening during last night at least 25 to 30 vehicles loaded with cattle reportedly crossed over to Kashmir via this road.
Four Tata Mobile vehicles bearing registration No. JK11/0307, JK11C/ 7072, JK11D/4704 and JK20/3809, were intercepted by police naka party at Thannamandi last mid night. During physical check of the vehicles, 25 bovine animals were loaded in them. The police said all the vehicles were seized and two drivers also arrested while others managed to escape. The arrested smugglers were identified as Shayar Shabir, son of Shabir Ahmed from Khabla (Rajouri) and Shabir Ahmed, son of Ghulam Mohiuddin, resident of Shopian. Four separate FIRs were registered against the accused persons at Thanna Mandi Police Station.
A senior R&B official connected with snow clearance work on Mughal Road said that they had cleared road on December 6 but the Traffic Police authorities did not give green nod for movement of traffic on the same day. But despite that several vehicles reportedly started plying on the road from the same late evening.
IG Traffic, Alok Kumar when contacted said that Mughal Road was officially declared opened today. He said though R&B had cleared the road two days ago but it was slippery and risky in Pir Ki Gali belt to allow movement of traffic. Concerned Traffic officers gave clearance last evening and today the road was opened. He said more than 100 vehicles from Shopian side crossed over to Rajouri-Poonch. Tomorrow, heavy vehicles will also be allowed from Poonch side while light vehicles on both the asides will be allowed to ply.
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