Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Mar 31: The irate people blocked the National Highway at Samba for two hours today in protest against the recent attack by a group of people of people on another group over a land dispute in which two persons were injured seriously.
The protestors raising slogans demanded immediate arrest of all the 16 persons involved in the attack in which one Raghuvir Singh alias Cheeku and his another accomplice was seriously injured.
They accused the authorities of deliberately covering the culprits responsible for murderous assault on the two people who had tried to lay the slab of the building which they were constructing in adjoining area of Samba township over 10 days back.
The protestors said that despite resorting to protest at a number of occasions and assurances given by the authorities they failed to take action against the culprits which has led to a public resentment in the area.
The protestors warned to intensify agitation in case the authorities failed to arrest all the 16 culprits responsible for the murderous assault.
There was a huge traffic jam over a number of kilometers on NH and people faced a tough time in reaching their destinations.
The NH blockade was only lifted after the intervention of district administration who assured the protestors that Government ahs already initiated action and nine culprits have been arrested.
The team of administration led by DC Samba, Sheetal Nanda, SSP Samba Joginder Singh and Additional SP Samba Faisal Qureshi informed the protestors that the police is on the job and all the 16 culprits responsible for the attack will be arrested soon.
They said that Special Investigation Team (SIT) has already been constituted by the police to investigate the matter and punish the culprits trying to disturb the law and order situation in the area.
Seeking cooperation of the people they appealed people to withdraw the NH blockade and allow the administration to its work.
The protestors however demanded that Government should evict all the people who have constructed their Jughis in forest land and also they should check their state subjects. They said that some people from neighbouring States have encroached the forest land and constructed their Jhuggis and hutments and they were posing a threat to original residents of the area.
Meanwhile an official handout issued later said that a deputation of prominent citizens of Samba town met with Deputy Commissioner, Samba and Sr. Superintendent of Police Samba at Samba Chowk today and submitted a memorandum highlighting various problems being faced by the people of Samba and demanded their early redressal.
The deputation demanded verification of reportedly fake state subjects in possession of some people in District Samba, state/forest land to be cleared from all the encroachers, arrest of the remaining accused persons involved in Case FIR No. 50/2015, u/s 307/147/148/149/RPC 3/25 Arms Act registered at Police Station Samba, constitution of Peace Committee for interaction between Administration and Public so as to maintain communal harmony in District Samba.
The Deputy Commissioner Samba and SSP Samba assured the people that verification of PRCs of floating population against whom complaints are being received shall be undertaken and if any fake PRC would be found, action will be taken against the defaulters. On spot directions to the field staff has also been imparted by Deputy Commissioner Samba for thorough verification of PRCs. As far as the removal of encroachments is concerned, DC and SSP assured the people that nobody would be allowed to encroach State Forest land and if any such cases are found encroachments shall be removed as per law.
Regarding arrest of remaining accused persons involved in Case FIR No. 50/2015, u/s 307/147/148/149/RPC 3/25 Arms Act P/S Samba, it was intimated that nine out of 16 nominated accused persons have already been arrested. One of the accused who is a Police constable has been placed under suspension and for the arrest of rest of accused persons, serious efforts are on through different Police teams. Moreover, action against the accused persons evading arrest under Section 87/88 Cr PC has been initiated and they shall be declared absconder very shortly through the Court of law.
Deputy Commissioner and SSP also informed the people that Peace Committee will be formed with the involvement of all sections of society of Samba District for maintaining communal harmony and peace in district Samba.
Accordingly, the people assembled at Samba Chowk dispersed peacefully after getting these assurances from the district administration.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel