Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Sept 18: Family members and relatives of deceased PHE worker, who committed suicide in protest against alleged harassment by the concerned Junior Engineer, today held a strong protest demonstration and blocked the ever busy Jammu-Udhampur National Highway at Tikri.
The protesting family members were seeking registration of murder case against the accused JE, who has already been placed under suspension following the suicide incident. They were also demanding Government job to widow of the deceased and Rs 10 lakh for his two minor children.
Amid shouting of slogans against the PHE Department and Police, the protesting family members put dead body of the deceased on the road and held a strong protest demonstration for more than an hour. Because of the protest, traffic movement on the National Highway came to a standstill with long queues of vehicles on both ends of the road.
Pertinent to mention here that a need-based employee of the PHE Department, identified as Khem Raj (32) of Kakryal, had consumed some poisonous substance in the office complex of the PHE near MH Chowk, Udhampur on last Monday after alleged harassment by JE Rahul. Other employees of the department shifted him to the District Hospital, Udhampur, where doctors referred him to the GMC, Jammu. But his family members shifted him to Narayana Hospital, where he died yesterday.
Soon after the family members were handed over the dead body after postmortem today, they marched towards Udhampur and blocked the National Highway at Tikri where a strong protest demonstration was held.
The protesting family members could be pacified only after the District and PHE authorities along with Police officials reached the spot and assured help to the bereaved family. It has been learnt that the PHE authorities assured job to widow of the deceased besides depositing Rs 2.5 lakh in the account of his each child.
Meanwhile, Police said that the case is being investigated under section 174 of CrPC and no arrest has been made in this connection. However, sources said that the accused JE has been detained for questioning by the Udhampur Police.
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