Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, May 12: Up in arms against extremely poor condition of the Battal-Mansar road, shopkeepers of Battal bazaar today observed a shut down and held a strong protest demonstration.
Raising slogans against the Government, the protesting shopkeepers and locals staged a dharna at the Battal Chowk and completely blocked the vehicular movement on the road. The dharna continued for around four hours resulting into long queues of stranded vehicles on both ends of the road.
The local shopkeepers lamented that they were worst sufferers as the movement of vehicles on dusty road makes their shops dirty besides severely effecting their health. “Despite repeated pleas to the Government, the work has not been started for repair of the road for the reason best known to the concerned authorities,” they added.
The protesting people were soon joined by JKNPP chairman, Harshdev Singh and his supporters, who reached the spot when the dharna was going on.
While addressing the dharna, Harshdev Singh announced that if the Government does not start repair and black topping of the road within ten days, the JKNPP would do the same with party fund and donations from people.
On this assurance of Harshdev Singh, the protesting shopkeepers and locals lifted the dharna.
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