Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 6: The people from Surankote town and adjoining areas today held strong protest demonstration and blocked Jammu-Poonch road for about four hours.
Irate traders also closed the entire market and joined protest against the Army authorities, alleging that the local Army unit has fenced a Govt school area and also blocked passage to a cremation ground and a Ziarat. While the Army authorities claimed that they have covered their land as notified by the State Revenue authorities, the locals of the area alleged that Army closed their passages near Air strip and also covered land of local Higher Secondary School, a religious place and also blocked passage to the cremation ground.
Today, the GOC of Romeo Force had come to attend ex-servicemen rally in the town. Some youth tried to block the road and hold protest in front of the Major General. The Army soldiers and police thwarted their bid and dragged them away. Three youth were also injured during this action. After the rally was over and GOC retuned but a large number of people gathered in the town at around 2 pm after news spread that Army men beaten up some youth. The people from both the communities closed their shops and business establishments and joined protest.
A large number of students and Beopar Mandal members besides others came out in the main market and raised barricades. They started protest demonstration. The movement of vehicles came to grinding halt. A large number of vehicles remained stranded on both sides for about four hours.
Repeated interventions by SDM Surankote, Afzal Mirza and SDPO Riaz Tantray failed to resolve the issue. The people were demanding that all the closed routes by the Army be opened for the public. At around 6.30 pm, the people suspended the agitation and it was decided that matter would be resolved in a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner and SSP Poonch tomorrow.
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