Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Mar 3: While indefinite bandh continued in the township of Nowshera on the 16th consecutive day today for seeking district status for this sub division, Sunderbani and Kalakote towns of district Rajouri also observed bandh in support of their demand of Additional Deputy Commissioner’s posts.
The people held massive protest at Nowshera and Sunderbani towns while agitating people courted arrests at Police Station Nowshera and held demonstration there in the Thana complex for some time. BJP MLC from Rajouri Vibodh Gupta had also gone there for the mediation and to resolve the issue on the directions of the senior party leaders but the JAC refused to listen to him.
Nowshera people, under the banner of Joint Action Committee, comprising members from various political parties, Beopar Mandal, Bar Association, Sanatan Dharam Sabha and some other social and youth organizations took out protest rally in the main market. They were shouting slogans against BJP-PDP Government, BJP Ministers/ legislators and also in support of their demand of seeking full fledged district for Nowshera. They culminated their protest march at the venue of dharna in Tehsil/ SDM office complex.
Several local leaders addressed the gathering at the venue. The work in local Govt offices has been paralysed due to ongoing agitation in Nowshera. Several other small towns of the area like Jhangar, Qila Darhal, Rajal, Kalsian, Bhawani, Lamberi etc are also observing bandh.
Nowshera JAC members including Subhash Kapoor (Beopar Mandal), Jagdish Sawhney (SD Sabha) Vinod Sharma (social activist), Haq Nawaz Choudhary advocate (Bar Asso), Bharat Bhushan Gupta and others are leading the agitation. Members of all the political parties are one on this common issue.
Meanwhile, people at Sunderbani town observed complete bandh and held protest demonstration today and shouted slogans against BJP-PDP Govt. The JAC has decided to observe two- days’ bandh in the town. A protest rally was taken out which after passing through main market culminated at Tehsil/ SDM office complex. They passed through main highway and the movement of traffic was disrupted for some time. The Govt offices were also forcibly closed by the angry rally activists.
Several local leaders also addressed the gathering and criticized Police to register FIRs against half a dozen youth. They warned the local administration to withdraw cases registered on pick and choose basis against these youth.
Sunderbani JAC convener, Ashwani Sharma said that BJP leadership has totally failed to resolve the issue and they have surrendered before PDP. He said if needed Sunderbani will go for indefinite bandh in coming days.
Meanwhile, Kalakote Joint Action Committee seeking ADC’s post has also went on three day bandh from today. Entire market remained closed in the town while vehicles plied on the roads normally. They have also warned to intensify the agitation.
“Kalakote has the vast area as compared to Nowshera and sunderbani and large number of Panchayats”, a JAC member said.
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