Srinagar, July 3: The Kashmir Mutton Dealers Association (KMDA) on Friday ended its strike after the Punjab government reportedly assured that livestock-carrying vehicles would no longer be stopped at police checkpoints, clearing the way for the restoration of sheep supplies to Jammu and Kashmir.
KMDA General Secretary Mehraj-ud-Din said the association had received information that the Punjab government had directed the police to facilitate the uninterrupted movement of livestock vehicles. Livestock markets in Punjab had also been instructed to resume supplies, prompting the association to withdraw the strike.
He said the association was, however, awaiting formal written orders and would closely monitor the situation to ensure that the government’s directions were implemented on the ground before considering the issue fully resolved.
The association expressed optimism that livestock transportation to Jammu and Kashmir would return to normal in the coming days.
The strike, which continued for several days, had disrupted the movement of sheep from Punjab to Jammu and Kashmir, raising concerns over a possible mutton shortage in Kashmir during the peak wedding season.
The issue had drawn intervention from the Jammu and Kashmir government, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah earlier saying he had taken up the matter with his Punjab counterpart, Bhagwant Mann, and termed the action against J&K livestock traders as unjustified.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti had also urged CM Mann to intervene in the matter. She had appealed to him to ensure that livestock traders from Jammu and Kashmir were not subjected to harassment and that the movement of livestock to the Union Territory resumed without further disruption.
