People protest, block road

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Sept 12: The people from Dallian and adjoining villages today held protest demonstration and blocked Jammu-Poonch highway after the dead body of missing elderly man was recovered from Manawar Tawi in Beripattan area  today.
Official sources said that the dead body of Bachan Singh (65), son of Bhagat Singh, resident of Dalian village, who got washed away in the nallah near Dallian village while crossing it two days back,  was recovered  near Beripatan, about 25 kms down stream Manawar  Tawi today. The villagers and family members came to know about the matter and then they rushed to the SDH Nowshera where the dead body had been shifted by police for postmortem and performing other legal formalities.
Later, the villagers took the body and placed it on the Jammu-Poonch highway  and started protest. The highway remained blocked from 3.20 pm to 5.15 pm. The people were protesting against  State Government, District Administration and MLA Nowshera. They alleged that people were demanding bridge near Dallian village over the Nallah for the last three decades but Govt and respective MLA failed to get the bridge sanctioned. In last two years three persons have been washed away and lost their lives but the Government is insensitive to the matter.  They raised loud slogans against MLA Ravinder Raina as well.
Later, SDM Nowshera, Tehsildar and SDPO reached the spot and they pacified the agitating people and assured to take up the matter with higher authorities. The people then lifted dharna at round 5.15 pm. A large traffic jam was created on this busy highway and traffic police authorities took long time to clear the traffic congestion.