Drug smuggling via LoC trade will vitiate biz ties: Industry

The Jammu and Kashmir industry today condemned people misusing the Cross Line-of-Control trade by smuggling drugs into the state, while terming it an attempt to vitiate the trade atmosphere between the two sides.
"The reports that trucks coming from POK at Uri Border in Kashmir under cross LOC trade have been confiscated on this side of border due to the presence of packets of heroine in the boxes of oranges will not only vitiate the atmosphere between the two countries but can also spell a doom for the future of LOC trade," Y V Sharma president of Jammu and Kashmir joint chamber of commerce and industry said.

Sharma said that LOC trade was initiated mainly as a confidence building measure to bring the two countries closer through trade so that the ground can be prepared for resolving the controversial issues between two countries.
Sharma appealed to the authorities on the both side of the borders to maintain strict vigil to check such activities in future.
He appealed the traders on the both sides not to harm the trade in any way.
"All the traders involved in LOC trade are not guilty. There are black sheep who are hell bent upon to destroy the interest of the traders on the both sides of the border," he said.

While demanding stern action against the accused, Sharma appealed the authorities to take measures so that the interest of the "innocent" traders on both the sides was not harmed.