*Harsh Dev injured in Police action
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 6: Ahead of peaceful Jammu Bandh call for December 7, the police today detained JKNPP chairman and former Education Minister, Harsh Dev Singh, party president, Balwant Singh Mankotia (Ex-MLA) and a score of other party leaders, to scuttle the democratic activity of the opposition parties and various Jammu based social organisations in the winter capital city here today.
Reports said a strong Jammu Police contingent cracked down on the NPP leaders and other activists, when they were carrying out awareness/ publicity campaign in the city for Jammu bandh and also distributing pamphlets. From Janipur, New Plots and Amphalla area, when the NPP leaders reached on Jail Road near Panjtirthi, Pacca Danga Police party suddenly cracked down on them, pushed and dragged into the vehicles and shifted them to Pacca Danga Police Station at around 2 pm. Click here to watch video
Party chairman, Harsh Dev received injury in his foot and leg when he was dragged into the vehicle by cops. He was bleeding and provided first-aid inside Pacca Danga Police Station. Later, a large number of NPP activists supported by women activists and some people from social organizations, held protest outside Police Station against Lt Governor’s Administration, BJP and Police. The protesting women activists way- laid on the road and disrupted the movement of traffic. More police contingent was called and the protesting people were forcibly removed from the road. The protest continued for long there. Similar protest was held by the NPP activists at Udhampur. They were demanding immediate release of party leaders.
The party leaders condemned the Jammu police action and alleged that UT Administration on the behest of BJP, was trying to gag the voice of Jammu people. They said it was great blow on the democracy and public was not being allowed to raise their genuine and justified issues by Modi Government.
The police released Harsh Dev Singh, Balwant Singh Mankotia and others late in the evening but they all were put under house arrest, a party spokesman said.
Earlier, in the morning, a joint Press Conference was held by several organizations of Jammu appealing the people to observe complete shut down on Saturday, December 7 so as to express their solidarity with cause of Jammu projected by NPP.
The representatives of various Jammu based organizations unanimously announced to participate in the Jammu Bandh, called against the ‘dictatorial moves’ of the Government in banning the mobile internet services with no timeframe fixed for restoration of the said services. They further endorsed the other issues including winding up of Toll Plaza Sarore, withdrawal of 9-11% token tax on vehicles, curb on soaring prices of vegetables, and other essential commodities, review of transfer of registration powers besides other Jammu related issues, projected by NPP leaders Harsh Dev Singh, Balwant Singh Mankotia and Yash Paul Kundal on multifarious occasions.
The participants said that the people of Jammu were being perpetually subjected to a biased treatment despite their nationalist credentials and inspite of the fact that they had fully supported and endorsed the Government’s move of abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A.
They appealed the civil society, social and political organizations, student unions, youth organizations, traders and transporters, Rehri and Phari Unions, Matador, Bus and Taxi Unions besides others to make Jammu Bandh a complete success.
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