KNB News Desk
Srinagar 07 August (KNB): Scores of tea sellers, selling tea on the Doodhpathri road in Budgam district, Saturday staged a protest at Press Enclave against the forest department’s meddling into their work and ordering them to leave the place.
The aggrieved tea sellers raised slogans against the injustice they are facing and warned of blocking of the Doodhpathri road if their demands would not be fulfilled.
Ghulam Mohuiddin Hajam, a tea seller said “We have been selling tea and bread on the Doodhpathri road for the last four years and no one used to disturb us. But four days ago, some men came from the Forest Department and confiscated all our stuff and told us to clear the place.”
He said that all stallholders later went to the offices of the area’s senior officials regarding the matter but nobody has been listening to them.
Hajam also alleged that they (tea sellers) were told to leave the place or an FIR would be lodged against them. “What kind of sin have we done? Selling tea is our livelihood. We are now only demanding to allow us to carry our work because we are earning our livelihood from it,” he added. (KNB)