Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Mar 13: While bandh in Nowshera town continued on 26th consecutive day today in support of district status, the agitating JAC members pulled up their shirts and held strong protest demonstration against Government whereas, people at Kalakote held strong protest march and organized day long rally.
At Kotranka, the people suspended their agitation after assurance from the local MLA and Minister from PDP, Ch Zulfkar Ali that he would resolve their issue within ten days. The market remained open and vehicles plied normally in the town there.
The people of Nowshera town and adjoining areas assembled at Patel Chowk main bazaar in the morning and took out strong protest march. After passing through various markets during protest march, they reached dharna site in the Tehsil complex. Many JAC members held strong protest in half-naked position. Several locals leaders addressed gathering and launched scathing attack on local leaders / legislators. The people raised slogans against local MLA and MLC besides BJP Ministers besides Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti and PDP Minister, Ch Zulfkar Ali.
The police said that no one has been arrested so far in connection with the two FIRs registered regarding clash at dharna site on Monday at Nowshera. It said the investigation was in progress.
Kalakote town also observed complete bandh today, seeking separate ADC’s posting. Entire market remained closed in the town while vehicles also remained off the road. The Kalakote JAC led by local leaders Randhir Singh, Vijay Suri, Ashok Kumar, Kuldip Kumar, Sardari Lal and others , rising above party lines, took out strong protest march in the town and then moved to the Tehsil complex. They were raising slogans against local BJP and PDP Ministers and rejected the Govt formula of rotational ADCs for Kotranka and Kalakote.
Former MLAs- Ashok Sharma from Congress and Rashpal Singh from National Conference also joined protest dharna at Kalakote today. They addressed public and criticized the present Government for wrong for its decision. They said both BJP and PDP are responsible for the present situation in these towns. They said the Govt decision of rotational ADCs was not acceptable to the people. They said the Govt must roll back on wrong and unfair decision being imposed on public.