Despite ban, stone crushers working normally in Khrew

KHREW — At a time when the whole world is fighting the COVID pandemic as the lockdown has broken the backbone of common people due to financial crisis, at the same time the employees of Geology & Mining Department are demanding bribe from Tipper drivers for ferrying the building material like gravel, sand and rocks.

It is pertinent to mention that the concerned department has issued a blanket ban on the working of stone crushers but the officials who are working hand in glove with owners of these plants let them work in lieu of huge amount of money.

Same incident happened in Khrew area of Pampore tehsil where a local employee Bashir Ahmad Sheikh demanded bribe of Rs. 5000 from the Tipper drivers but when the said driver refused, his vehicle was seized. He was also imposed a fine of Rs. 28,000.

The incident has shocked the local drivers as other drivers who paid weekly bribe to him are allowed to ferry material without any interruption.

The video of loaded Tippers of Sunday evening is self-evident of rampant corruption by him. The said employee in the video threatens drivers to contact concerned DC and DM as he is not afraid of anyone.

The driver whose vehicle was seized said that he will go on hunger strike if investigation wasn’t launched against mentioned employee and he added that there can’t be two laws with one for the poor and other for the rich.