Security and compassion must go hand in hand: Sakina Itoo on convoy halts

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Health, Medical Education and Social Welfare Sakina Ittoo on Friday raised concerns over frequent traffic stoppages on the Srinagar-Anantnag-Kulgam-Qazigund National Highway, where even ambulances and students are often not allowed to move during the passage of Army or paramilitary convoys.

The minister said that while security is paramount, the well-being of the people is equally important, and security measures must go hand in hand with compassion. "While travelling frequently on the Srinagar-Anantnag-Kulgam-Qazigund National Highway, it is deeply distressing to see ambulances stranded, students missing classes and ordinary citizens waiting 15-30 minutes, sometimes even hours, for convoy movement. What fault have our people committed to endure such hardships?" Ittoo wrote on X. She appealed to LG Manoj Sinha and other concerned authorities to explore practical traffic management measures that uphold essential security protocols while ensuring the uninterrupted passage of ambulances and minimising inconvenience to the public.

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"Security is paramount, but so is the well-being of our people. Security and compassion must go hand in hand. Let governance be reflected not just in policies, but in the everyday lives of citizens through dignity, sensitivity and meaningful relief," she wrote.

Traffic stoppages at checkpoints on major roads across the Valley are a regular feature. However, since the February 2019 Pulwama attack, in which at least 40 CRPF personnel were killed, the Army and paramilitary forces have been stopping vehicles on both sides of the road whenever a convoy passes. Over the past few years, several videos showing ambulances, students and, at times, even government officials being stopped have gone viral on social media.

Locals and even politicians have described the practice as "harassment, humiliation and collective punishment".