Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 9: Massive protest dharna and fast unto death strike at Budhal town (Rajouri) continued on the 8th consecutive day today in support of public demand of Tehsil status while people of Dharamsal in Kalakote and Chandak in Poonch are also on protest after announcement of creation of new administration units by State Government.
In Budhal town the people from at least a dozen villages and hamlets of the area took out a strong protest rally and moved towards Budhal Police Station where nearly 800 people including women and students courted arrest. They were however, let off by the police. The protesters were shouting slogans against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, PCC president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, MP Madan Lal, members of the Cabinet Sub Committee and local MLA.
The people after holding protest rally sat on dharna at the venue and joined people sitting on fast un-to death in the main market. The shops and educational institutions were closed and there was no activity at all in the town expect agitation for seeking much deserved tehsil status for the last eight consecutive days. The people alleged political conspiracy behind denial of tehsil status and said that even during 1978 great injustice was done to the people of bushel when tehsil was shifted to Kotranka. They alleged that indefinite fast would continue till Tehsil status is granted to Budhal.
Meanwhile, protest ‘dharna-cum-fast unto death strike’ at Dharamsal entered 5th consecutive day today. Two persons whose condition deteriorated at the venue were shifted to Kalakote hospital. They were identified as Uttam Dayal and Mukesh Suri of Dharamsal. These youth earlier refused to get treatment but with the intervention of police, they were shifted to Hospital. They were provided glucose drips. The people claimed that their agitation would be continued and from tomorrow onward they would shift their protest to Siot Chowk, on Jammu-Poonch highway. They alleged that Government has denied them tehsil status while many such areas, even those which do not deserve Niabat were made tehsils.
Another report said that people from Chandak and adjoining areas blocked Jammu-Poonch highway and held protest demonstration against Government. They are also demanding Tehsil status for the area. The traffic remained disrupted on the busy highway for some time. The people have warned to intensify their agitation if Government failed to do justice with them.
Meanwhile, people from Sarthal in Kishtwar have also threatened to launch agitation as the area has been denied tehsil or block status. In a press statement members of Sarthal Welfare Society led by Beli Ram Thakur and Th Hakam Singh have condemned the Government led by Omar Abdullah to deny Tehsil status to the area and warned to start agitation. They said it was most unjustified act to keep Sarthal with Drabshalla which was accorded tehsil status now. They said Sarthal is oldest and largest Niabat in Kishtwar but has denied the Tehsil status. Drabshalla area is going to be submerged in Rattle dam and it was most unwise decision to provide tehsil status to it.
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