Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 26: After Nowshera, the demand for district status was today also raised by Mendhar people who took out a strong protest march in the town and announced to continue the struggle till the State Government considers their ‘genuine’ claim in this regard.
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Meanwhile in Nowshera, Government offices re-opened after 40 days even as shops and business establishments remained closed while Joint Acton Committee reiterated its stand of continuing the ongoing indefinite strike in support of their demand for ADDC and Police Lines.
Reports from Mendhar in Poonch said that people of this area also opened front for district status and took out a strong protest march from Shahidi Yadgar Memorial besides holding a demonstration in the town. They also blocked the main road to Jammu and staged a dharna there disrupting vehicular movement.
The protesting people were led by local Congress leader Parveen Sarwar Khan, who vowed to continue the struggle till the Government concedes their demand of district status to Mendhar.
The dharna was lifted only after a Police team from PS Gursai pacified the agitating people, who later marched to SDM office and submitted a memorandum to the Government through Tehsildar.
In Nowshera, the Government offices including Addl DC, Xen PHE, Xen PWD, Xen Irrigation / Flood Control, Tehsildar, DFO, BDO, Treasury, sub-divisions of various departments, schools and colleges opened today and started functioning normally.
Road traffic also plied normally in outskirts of the Nowshera town while markets in peripheral areas remained partially open today and life returned towards normalcy to some extent.
However the main market of Nowshera town remained closed where locals also held a strong protest demonstration at Patel Chowk. Amidst raising of slogans, they were demanding post of ADDC and Police Lines for Nowshera
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, SSP Yougal Manhas, ADC Abdul Sattar along with senior officers of administration visited Thakur Dwara and held meeting with the head priest Swami Shri Mahamandleshwar Santosh Dass Mohni, who also appealed the Joint Action Committee to suspend the strike and further take up demands with the State Government.
The DC along with SSP and other officers also visited the residence of Jaswinder Singh son of Jaswant Singh at Nonial, who was injured during clashes between protesters and Police. On behalf of State Government, an amount of Rs 1.00 lakh as immediate assistance to family was handed over for treatment of the injured, said an official spokesman.
However, reports said that family members of the victim, who is a student of class 12th and has lost vision in one eye due to smoke shell during the clash, refused to accept the Government assistance of Rs one lakh. They are demanding Rs 10 lakh as financial assistance for treatment of the boy and a Government job for him.
Meanwhile, office of Additional Deputy Commissioner Kalakote started its functioning today. Khalid Wafa, SDM, Kalakote, today assumed the charge of the post of ADC.
Minister for Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries, Abdul Ghani Kohli was present on the occasion.
The Minister said that newly posted ADC will function from the office of Sub Divisional Magistrate for time being till suitable arrangements are made. Kohli said that creation of the post of Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) at Kalakote has been fulfilled as per the aspirations of the people of the area adding that ADC office will ease the problems of the people.
However, on his return from the SDM office, Kohli was shown black flags by a group of locals, who were protesting against alleged insensitive attitude of the Minister when they were agitating for their genuine right.
The protesting people alleged that the Minister did not join them in struggle and appeared on the scene only after they forced the Government to concede their demand.
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