Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 11: Six persons including an officer of J&K police, an official of JDA and four civilians were injured today when a violent clash broke out during anti-encroachment drive by Jammu Development Authority (JDA) in Bus Stand area.
The incident took place when the JDA officials accompanied by police had gone to Bus Stand areas to remove teens/sun shades illegally raised by the shopkeepers in front of their shops.
As soon as JDA team accompanied by police reached the spot and removed some encroachments, the shopkeepers registered their protest with the visiting team of JDA. As the JDA team went ahead with removal of encroachments, the shopkeepers of the area exchanged heated arguments with the JDA officials.
Later, shopkeepers resorted to stone pelting in which a Rent Collector of JDA got serious injuries while SHO Bus Stand, Inspector Ravi Kant got minor injuries. Police also resorted to mild lathi charge in which four protesters were injured. The injured were rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu for treatment.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, the drive was suspended later on the interference of the local MLA, Rajesh Gupta, who reached the spot and asked the JDA team to give one-day time to the shopkeepers to remove encroachments themselves.
Tehsildar, JDA, Kusum Chib claimed that the shopkeepers were given ultimatum two-to three times in last month as well as 6th of this month to remove their illegally raised teen/sun shades, as they were obstructing free flow of vehicles of a private company engaged in construction of Modern Bus Stand but they paid no heed to their ultimatums.
SDPO Bus Stand, Varun Jandial, said that six persons including SHO Bus Stand and a Rent Collector of JDA were injured in the stone pelting. He said that a case under relevant sections has been registered against unknown persons and investigations started.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued today, Chamber of Commerce & Industry condemned the use of force by the Jammu Development Authority in the Bus Stand area in which shopkeepers were brutally attacked and seriously injured. The Chamber warned the JDA to desist from any use of force against business community and work with restraint. The Chamber has also demanded judicial enquiry into the incident.
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