*Arrest accused or face Chakka Jam: Residents
Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, Aug 21: Labourers involved in extracting sand from nallah in Shibnote area here held protest and also pelted stones on police and other vehicles. SHO Thathri was injured in stone pelting and has been hospitalised. However, acting swiftly, police team arrested five persons involved in stone pelting and injuring SHO.
As per reports, labourers involved in extracting sand from nallah in Shibnote area held protest and blocked the vehicular movement on the Doda-Kishtwar highway.
Carrying sand extracting utensils, the protestors raised slogans against the contractor and other concerned departments engaged in construction of the Doda-Kishtwar highway for not allowing them to extract sand from the nallah.
On seeing police vehicle passing through the highway near protesting site, the protestors turned violent and started stone pelting in which SHO Thathri Amrit Katoch received injuries and was rushed to GMC Hospital Doda, where he was undergoing treatment.
The protestors also damaged police and some other vehicles. They demanded continuation of their sand extracting work in the aforesaid area. In the incident, some labourers also received injuries in the alleged lathicharge by the cops.
With a warning to intensify their protest, the protestors dispersed and vehicular movement was restored on the highway.
However, the residents while interacting with the media persons threatened chakka jam tomorrow if the protestors involved in creating law and order problem in the peaceful area were not arrested.
BJP leader Basant Raj Thakur while talking to the media persons condemned the stone pelting on the police and other vehicles and demanded strict action against the culprits.
Bilal Ahmed, District President Mazdoor Union also condemned the incident and appealed to the district administration to take strict action against the people involved in stone pelting and injuring SHO Thathri.
When contacted, Incharge SSP Doda Abdul Qayoom told that a case under FIR Number 90/2021 under relevant Sections has been registered against 9 persons at Police Station Thathri and 5 accused have been arrested. The absconding accused will be arrested soon as hunt is going on, he added.
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