Excelsior Correspondent
BhadErwah, June 28: Dozens of labourers working with Border Road Organisation (BRO) staged protest on Bhaderwah-Basohli National Highway against police highhandedness.
Alleging harassment by the police officer, labourers suspended work and started a protest march from Nalthi village to Bhaderwah town while raising slogans against SHO Bhaderwah. They sought immediate intervention of ADC Bhaderwah in the matter, while holding a sit in protest at New Bus Stand Kotli.
Around 100 agitated labourers of 114 RCC of BRO, who board BRO vehicles early in the morning everyday to reach to their respective work sites on different location of 80 km stretch from Basti to Sarthal on under construction Bhaderwah-Basohli highway, held protest march against SHO, who according to them snatched the keys of the vehicles and threatened them not to board the said vehicles.
“We have been boarding BRO vehicles every morning and like other parts of the State, this arrangement is going on since last two decades without any hindrance from any quarters. We are unable to understand, why the said SHO is harassing poor labourers”, said Tariq Zargar BRO labourer.
“We have been pushed to corner as police officer’s action prompted BRO officials to stop boarding poor labourers in their vehicles and they (BRO officers) have asked us to arrange our own transport or leave the job”, Zargar added.
“As of now, public transport does not ply on this road and under given circumstances the police action will leave us jobless. We appealed to the authorities to work out a permanent solution or we will be compelled to intensify our protest against SHO Bhaderwah”, said another protesting labourer Sajjad Ahmed.
Later Sarpanch Sartingal Irshad Lawai and other people also joined the protesting labourers and also met with Tehsildar Zeeshan Tahir, who assured them that he will call a meeting with the concerned police officers and BRO authorities to settle the issue.
On the assurance, the protesting labourers dispersed.
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