Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 20: The Line of Control (LoC) trade has been proving scandalous and recoiling upon the security matters and needed a deep look by some independent agency.
This was said by former Union Minister and MLA Prof Chaman Lal Gupta while commenting upon the reports that large consignment of Chinese apples was seized by the Custom Department authorities at Uri Islamabad.
He added that the seized apples were released mysteriously after obtaining a certificate by an expert that these apples are the product of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the Chinese stickers were misleading.
Prof Gupta said that apples worth crores are getting way in PoK and then to J&K as part of the LoC Trade, despite the fact that apple in such a large scale are not grown in Pak and even in the Valley during these summer months.
By this dubious trade not only the custom duty and other taxes are being evaded but also third country produce is getting its way in this State and being taken to other parts of the country in dubious manner and an unscrupulous type of game is going on, he added.
Prof Gupta also pointed out that some traders have been found utilizing this LoC trade for funding hawala money to ultras and separatists. Some cases have already surfaced and mysteriously tackled.
Earlier, there were reports about Chinese carpets finding their way to various parts of India, he said, adding that the seizure and release of Chinese apples, is quite a serious matter which must be looked into with various angles including that of third country involvement.
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