Bandipora, March 14: The residents of Saderkoot Bala village in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Tuesday held a protest, demanding the ban on stone quarrying be lifted.
Hundreds of people, including men and women, assembled and blocked the Srinagar-Bandipora road, leaving the commuters and numerous vehicles stuck for hours.
The protesters demanded “justice” and chanted slogans against the government’s ban on stone quarrying. They said the government’s action has rendered them unemployed and that their families are “on the verge of starvation”.
“If we have the option to find employment close to home, why are we being forced to migrate elsewhere in search of a livelihood,” said a protester.
They appealed to the Lieutenant Governor-led administration to “understand” their concern and lift the ban on stony quarry works.
