4 detained, MLA Kathua condemns action
Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Oct 15: Police today resorted to minor cane charge to disperse a group of people protesting against the installation of smart meters in the Kathua town.
The police also detained four people in connection with the protest. As per reports a group of people under the banner of Jan Chetna Jagriti Manch and Bhim Sena held a rally at City Chowk here earlier and protested. They also tried to torch the effigy of UT Government but their bid was foiled by police team led SHO Kathua, Ajay Chib.
The protestors raising slogans against the installation of smart metres termed it highhandedness of the Government which will not be tolerated. With banners and placards in their hands the protestors marched towards the DC office, Kathua and blocked road there. The traffic on busy DC office road was paralysed and there was a huge jam.
The authorities later diverted the traffic from other side. The protesters including a sizable number of women despite the plea of authorities did not lift the road blockade and continued to squat on the road. They demanded that the DC Kathua should give assurance to them that the smart meters would not be installed.
Tehsildar Kathua, Bikram Kumar who reached the spot tried to pacify the protestors asking them to give the memorandum and they will handover the same to DC. But protestors remained adamant that DC or ADC should give assurance to them otherwise they will not disperse and continue their protest. As there was a huge traffic jam on the road, the police resorted to minor cane charge to disperse the protestors including women.
Four protestors were also detained by the Kathua police on spot. Meanwhile, newly elected MLA from Kathua, Dr Bharat Bushan has strongly condemned the canecharge on peaceful protestors by the police and demanded immediate release of the arrested persons.
He also took up the issue with SSP Kathua and urged him that all four arrested persons be released immediately.
He said that police should have averted cane charge on peaceful protestors including women who were protesting in a democratic way.
Dr Bharat Bushan said the party will take up the smart meters issue with the Government. The MLAs have yesterday taken up this issue during party meeting and they will collectively take up this issue with Government also, he added.
He urged the concerned Executive Engineer to stop installation of smart meters in Kathua immediately and also asked the people not to come to streets as party is taking up this issue with Government.
The leaders of various social and political organisations including Congress have also strongly condemned the cane charge on peaceful protestors.
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