Protest held in Thannamandi over delay in opening of Mughal road

People staging protest at Thanamandi in Rajouri district.
People staging protest at Thanamandi in Rajouri district.

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Mar 5: A protest was held today in Thannamandi against delay in opening of Mughal Road.
The protest was led by Captain (retired) Mohd Bashir Khan and was joined by members of civil society as well as public of twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch who demanded that Mughal road to be reopened for general public.
The agitating people said that Mughal Road reduces the distance between Rajouri and Kashmir Valley. They said most of people including patients prefer to visit Srinagar via Mughal Road. “A number of cancer patients who are undergoing treatment in SKIMS are also eagerly waiting for this road to be reopened soon as they have to travel for days together to reach Srinagar,” they said adding, annual migration of Gujjar-Bakerwals is also going to be started and they are travelling on foot.
Mohd Bashir Khan demanded that to reduce suffering of people, Government must open the Mughal Road. He said that a large number of students who are undergoing various degree programs from Kashmir University have to travel a lot to reach Kashmir and to facilitate them, this road must be reopened for general public.
“It has become a routine that for opening this road public have to protest every year,” he said and question as to why Government is not opening the road and doing injustice with people of Pir Panjal to make them suffer as instead of 4-hour journey they have to travel for two days to reach Kashmir and poor people can’t afford all that.