Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, Nov 18: The people from one community held strong protest and blocked Mendhar-Harni- Surankote road for about one and half hour as some members from the other community encroached upon the Govt land, left since long for the passage to the old and historic temple near Harni.
The people of the area led by Mahant (priest) came out on the road at around 9.30 am and started protest demonstration. They raised slogans against the Police and District Administration. The movement of the vehicles on this road came to grinding halt for some time. The protest continued up to 11 am. The protesters alleged that local Naib Tehsildar and Patwari in connivance with the accused parties did wrong demarcation and prepared fake documents and now, the locals have grabbed the land which was passage to this temple. They are raising construction during night hours and the local police and Revenue officials did not bother when the matter was reported to them.
Later, SDM Mendhar, Sher Singh , SDPO and tehsildar arrived there. They pacified the agitated public and assured action against land grabbers. The encroached area was also cleared. The Temple priest and people alleged that SSP Poonch had deployed security at the temple but all the cops move to their houses during night and nobody stays there. During night, miscreants cut the electricity cable or even loud speaker wires during morning hours causing unnecessary harassment. The SDPO assured better security at the temple. The people then lifted dharna.