Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, Apr 3: Tension gripped Kottan area of Mendhar today, after a strong contingent of police and para military force headed by SDM Mendhar Th Sher Singh and ASP Poonch launched operation to clear a five year old pending PMGSY road.
This 7.50 kms road from Kottan to Galuta had been abandoned by the PMGSY authorities as four families had raised objections over the alignment and they had also gone to the court. Since the High Court dismissed their plea after four-five years and directed the R&B authorities to go ahead with the road project, the Executive Engineer Abdul Gani Jagal sought assistance from DC Poonch.
Today a strong contingent of police force led by ASP Poonch MA Mir and SDM Mendhar Sher Singh, and assisted by DySP Operations Poonch Sheezan Bhat and SDPO Mendhar Shahid Nahim launched massive operation to clear the road. They engaged two JCBs to clear nearly 300 mts of this road which had been abandoned due to litigation.
A large number of supporters of these four families with lathis, sharp edged weapons and heaps of stones were ready to attack the police party from the nearby hilly spot. The officers devised strategy and tried to involve them in talks. Some people earlier resorted to stone pelting as police cane charged some of them opposing the police action. Two cops and a civilian received injuries.
Due to tense situation and strong opposition by locals the administration could clear hardly 100 mts of road. They had to suspend the operation. They gave two days’ time to these families to withdraw otherwise Administration would use more force to clear the road.
DC Rajouri Mr Malik when contacted said that High Court has directed to clear the road as nearly 10,000 people are being affected due to just four families. Their demand is unjustified. They have been given two days time now. The Administration will use more force to clear the road if they tried to hamper the Government work, the DC said.
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