Jammu, June 17
The future of over 700 Gujjars and Bakerwals and 50,000 head of sheep, goats and horses is uncertain as they have been debarred from entering the Suru valley in Ladakh.

The Bakerwals have come from various areas of the Jammu region and trekked difficult mountain terrain from Kishtwar to Wardwan with the purpose of spending five months in the Suru valley. It took them 20 days to cross Wardwan but they were shocked when they were stopped by Ladakh Scouts. They were told that they could not enter the Kargil and Zanskar belt for security reasons.

Last year also a caravan of Bakerwals was prevented from entering the Suru valley. The Army authorities had informed the Gujjar and Bakerwal leaders that they had reports that militants may sneak into the valley in the guise of Bakerwals , thereby posing a serious threat to security.

The Army contention was that the militants had already learnt to speak Gojri and Bakerwal languages and dialects.

Later the Defence Ministry had issued a clarification that the matter of allowing the Bakerwals into the valley rested with the state government. This contention was made despite the fact that the then Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, had recommended the case to the Army authorities. Even the Minister for Health, Mian Altaf, who is a Gujjar leader, had pleaded with the Army that permission should be granted to them to graze their flock. However, the permission was not given.

The Bakerwals had returned to their places with a loss of over 2,000 sheep and goats.