Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, May 17: Fifteen persons were injured in police and protestors’ clash here this evening after the civil administration foiled the attempt of the people to reconstruct a temple at State land in the town.
The injured included nine police personnel and six civilians. Among the police personnel Additional SP, Nasir Khan and two lady cops were also injured in stone pelting by protestors while among the civilians one lady was also among the injured.
All of the injured were admitted in District Hospital Kathua for treatment and their condition is stated to be normal.
According to reports that the temple Committee members of Guru Naba Dass Ji had started construction of the temple over some days back on a piece of land in the town on which they were holding function over 10 years every year in honour of Guru Naba Dass Ji.
This year the Biradri members decided to construct a temple on the land and some days back after stacking the material they started construction. Taking the serious exception to it by the district administration, DC Kathua, Rohit Khajuria served a notice to the members of the Biradri and asked them not to go ahead with the construction as the land falls under the category of State land on which no construction can be made without permission.
However the members of the Biradri protested against the decision of the administration and shouted slogans against the DC Kathua. Next day they started construction over the land again. When the administration came to know of it, ACR Kathua, Jitender Mishra was deputed on the site and he asked Som Raj Mishra BSP leader and other people present there to stop the construction work.
As the people did not stop the work, DC Kathua, Rohit Khajuria along with SSP Kathua Shridhar Patil and other civil and police officers rushed to the spot with a big contingent of police and they forcibly stopped the work.
This ensued a clash between police and the people. To disperse the mob the police resorted to lathicharge and fired tear gas shells also. The agitated people also pelted stones on the police and civil administration resulting into the injury to 15 people including nine policemen and six civilians.
Reports said that police has also arrested some persons but it did not divulge the number. Police has registered a case in this regard.
The tension prevailed in the town as the people objected the action of administration saying that two shops have also been constructed on the State land on the same land and when the administration did not take action against them why the under construction temple has been demolished by it.
The police also lifted the entire material stacked for the construction of temple.
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