Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 9: Ministry of Defence has cleared proposal for the installation of full body scanners for the scanning of trucks loaded with goods coming from the Pak occupied Kashmir at Uri (Baramulla) and Chakkan-da-Bagh (Poonch) LoC points.
Authoritative sources told the Excelsior that Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has initiated the process of procuring the machines (large scanners) from the foreign firms including Germany and USA and the tenders for them have been placed. It is expected that both the scanners will be in place at the cross LoC points at Uri and Poonch within couple of months.
The necessity to install full body scanners for trucks loaded with the goods was felt by the Indian security agencies after the Customs/ Excise and security staff at Chakkan-da-Bagh and Uri recovered some objectionable material including live cartridges of guns, SIM cards and satellite phone concealed in the packed boxes of goods on several occasions. The security men seized live rounds at least on three occasions at Poonch LoC point, SIM cards on number of occasions and satellite phone once.
While the firms which had sent the consignment from PoK and even those were supposed to receive the goods were blacklisted and banned for further trade, the Trade Facilitation Officers at Chakkan-da-Bagh and Uri sent a proposal to the Dy Commissioners concerned for the installation of full body scanners to keep check on such activities. Moreover, it was very lengthy procedure to unload each truck and display entire goods by opening boxes before the security and Customs staff and then again re-pack as per routine practice.
The Deputy Commissioners sent the proposals to the State Home Department which forwarded the proposal to the Union Home Ministry. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also took personal initiative into the matter and took up the issue with the Defence Minister and the Union Home Minister. Union Home Ministry discussed the proposal with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) which has now given its consent to install the same. Now, the procurement process of the full truck body scanners was in the pipeline.
Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, G A Khwaja when contacted said that this proposal came under discussion after the recovery of some objectionable material in the boxes of goods coming from that side of the LoC on certain occasions. The issue was then discussed at the higher level by the State and Central security agencies besides top officers in the administration. It was also felt that checking of loaded trucks with goods was long and time consuming exercise and it involves large number of staff members. The scanners will save the time and also reduce the burden of additional staff.
Replying to a question, the Deputy Commissioner said that these scanners will be monitored by the Army experts at these points while other security staff from the Central and State agencies will also be put on place to assist. Central Excise and Customs staff will be monitoring the over all trade activities with help of Trade Facilitation Officers (TFO) there.
TFO Poonch (Chakkan-da-Bagh), Mohd Bashir Lone said that three small scanners/ machines installed at trade facilitation centre, Poonch were lying out of order for the last several months. He said the two machines installed at Immigration centre, near the gates are functional. A fresh proposal of Rs 10.47 crore for raising infrastructure/ machines at Chakkan-da-Bagh has been sent to the Union Government. Cost of installation of full body scanners at both the cross LoC points will be borne by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the State Government has no role in it.
However, DC Poonch Sajjad Ahmed Khan felt the urgent need of installation of full body scanner at the LoC point and said that District Administration has forwarded the proposal strongly to the Union Home Ministry. He hoped that it will be in place within two or three months. He expressed regrets regarding declining of the trade at Poonch and said the traders seems to be taking less interest due to lack of much needed support from the Government on both sides.
Meanwhile, the cross LoC trade has reduced to its low ebb via Chakkan-da-Bagh between Poonch and Rawalakote (PoK) as just one truck loaded with goods arrived here from Pak occupied Kashmir while no goods crossed over to that side on Thursday. On Wednesday, only three trucks arrived from PoK side.
Officials sources said that total 50 truck goods are entitled every day including 25 from the either side. The trade is allowed on four days per week, including Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. During one week 100 truck goods from Indian and the same number from Pakistan side are allowed. On Wednesday (last week), only three trucks arrived from Pakistan side while four loaded with goods crossed over to PoK from here. Only almonds, herbs, onion, banana, dry dates etc is being allowed for cross LoC trade by the Government on both the sides. Due to reduction in the tradable items, the traders are showing less interest in the trade and moreover it is not so profitable. It has now reached at the verge of near closure.
Traders Pawan Anand and Haji Latief from Poonch, who are involved in the cross LoC trade alleged that out of the 21 items earlier allowed for trade, the number has decreased to just 3. Only banana, herbs and onion is allowed from this side now while dry dates, herbs and almonds are allowed from the PoK side. No banking facility is being granted and money of many traders of this side has been blocked. There is no security of the trade money and pending disputes during monthly meets are hardly resolved. Moreover, it is no profitable business for the traders. There is no adequate support from the Government and pending demands/ issues of the traders are given no attention. Therefore, the traders on this side are losing interest and the number of trucks have reduced to a just two, three or four and virtually it will stop if the Government attitude remained the same, they added.
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