Deregister dubious cross-LoC traders: Vohra

Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today ordered the verification of all traders who are engaged in cross-LoC trade within one month and deregistration of those with doubtful antecedents.

Vohra chaired a high-level meeting to review and identify issues related to cross-LoC trade that need improvement. J&K Director General of Police (DGP) S P Vaid; Shailendra Kumar principal secretary, industries and commerce; and Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam were among those present in the meeting.

"Governor (Vohra) directed the DGP (Vaid) and principal secretary (Kumar) to urgently undertake complete verification of all traders engaged in LoC trade within one month and traders who do not furnish the required documents or have doubtful antecedents should be deregistered without delay," a Raj Bhavan spokesperson said here.

At the meeting, Vohra directed that the roster of movements should be finalised well in advance and publicised online on the first day of every month. He asked for the setting up of one-point screening of all trade vehicles.

The governor asked for an effective mechanism to detect smuggling of narcotics or banned items and ensure undervaluation of goods. He also ordered the installation of CCTV cameras at the trading centres within 60 days, the spokesperson said.

Vohra directed Subrahmanyam to ensure that amendments are made in the required standard operating procedure to ensure that no trader could transfer his turn to another trader.

He asked Kumar to ensure that no registered trader has other persons/family members/firms unlawfully involved in the trade.

The governor also directed Kumar to take immediate steps to computerise records of the trade and ensure that the traders compulsorily reconcile accounts with their counter-parties every three months.