Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, June 25: The Action Committee Dudu-Basantgarh led by Ranbir Singh Pathania (former MLA Ramnagar) Chairman, Action Committee, Dudu-Basantgarh, held a protest demonstration outside SDM office Chenani and submitted a memorandum, demanding 20 lakh/Government job for next of kin of late Shiv Raj.
Pertinent to mention here that Shiv Raj at Seoj Dhar was reportedly chased and thrown into a fast-flowing stream by a group of rebellious tribals hailing from Punjab/Kathua on 2nd June.
Staging protest, members of Action Committee said that the administrative indolence has been at the worst vis-a-vis the grave situation prevailing in the area of Dudu-Basantgarh where local shepherds with about 20,000 cattle are reluctant to move to Seoj Dhar.
“There is an atmosphere of un-safeness and uncertainty prevailing over here. Today is 23rd day and police still hopelessly groping feet and clueless with the whereabouts of Shiv Raj,” they added.
Sarpanchs Sunita Devi, Gaytri Devi, Usha Devi, Nishat Bano, Bodh Raj, Sudesh, Subash Chander, Som Raj, Onkar Singh, Balwan Singh and Pawan Kumar, Panch Sudesh Kumar and others were accompanying the Pathania to SDM office.
The Committee demanded Rs 20 lakh cash and one Government job to next of kin (NoK) of late Shiv Raj. They further sought action against guilty officers of police/civil administration who have turned blind eyes and deaf ears to the exploitation and extortion of local people by the professional outlaws at Seoj Dhar (a noticed Wildlife area) for so many years and played spoilsport with the case at the initial stages.
They rejected the police version put forth by a police officer through a press-conference. The Committee sought a clarification as to why police registered a case of ‘simple hurt’ for as long as two weeks and not a murder case despite availability of sufficient evidence.
Meanwhile, similar peaceful protests were observed at Basantgarh, Majalta and Udhampur whereby the inaction of local police was decried and appeal was made for securing justice for Shiv Raj.
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