People protest, block road

People staging protest dharna at Sunderbani.
People staging protest dharna at Sunderbani.

Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Feb 9: Township of Sunderbani town observed complete bandh today while people held strong protest demonstration demanding creation of Additional Deputy Commissioner’s post for Sunderbani sub-division.
A large number of people from various political parties, members of Beopar Mandal, youth and students assembled on the Jammu-Poonch Highway at Main Chowk Sunderbani  and stalled the movement of vehicles at around 10 am.  All the shops and other business establishments remained  closed throughout the day. The students also boycotted classes and moved to the venue. The traders, political and social activists in large number joined the protest on the main highway.
A strong dharna continued  at the main chowk under the leadership of Ashwani Sharma (president SD Sabha), convenor Joint Action Committee, Sunderbani. The people were raising slogans against the PDP-BJP Government. They demanded that ADC’s post be created for Sunderbani which is about 80 km away from district headquarters Rajouri.
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Several local leaders including Ashwani Sharma, Jatinder Singh, P L Sharma, Ex-Sarpanch Shamsher Singh, Rakesh Sudan    addressed the gathering. A large traffic jam was created up to 2 pm on the busy Jammu-Poonch highway.
Later, ASP Nowshera, Master Popsy  and SDM Sunderbani Kartar Singh arrived there. They pacified the  people and assured to take up the matter with the higher authorities. They  also arranged their talk with DC Rajouri Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary on phone who assured to take up the matter with the Government at higher level. Then the people lifted dharna. After 3 pm many shops were re-opened in the market.