*Youth go violent, ransack SDM office, cop hurt
Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Mar 8: While some youth went violent and attacked the office of SDM and Tehsildar Nowshera, broke down name plates of local BJP MLA Ravinder Raina and MLC Surinder Choudhary at several places to show their resentment against Govt decision of rotational Additional Deputy Commissioners for Sunderbani and Nowshera besides, the people of Kalakote and Sunderbani have also decided to intensify their agitation from tomorrow opposing Government decision.
The Government today declared that Rotational ADCs will be placed for Sunderbani and Nowshera while Kotranka ADC shall look after the Kotranka on weekly rotational basis. This declaration of the Government through BJP Ministers Bali Bhagat and Ajay Nanda at a press conference in Jammu triggered violence and massive protest at Nowshera this evening. As the news spread like wild fire in the town, the members of Joint Action Committee including a large number of youth held an emergency meeting at the venue and then took out strong protest.
The youth went violent and resorted to stone pelting on the office of SDM and Tehsildar. They smashed the window panes and also broken the name plates of the local BJP MLA, Ravinder Raina and PDP MLC Surinder Choudhary and DyCM Dr Nirmal Singh at least at four places in the town. Some `anti-social’ activists also raised pro-Pak slogans to flare up communal tension. The youth resorted to stone pelting on police which tried to stop them. They also targeted the official vehicle of SDPO in which his body guard SGC, Mohd Khaliq was injured.
The local administration deployed additional police and paramilitary force personnel to take control of the situation. Senior police officials also arrived there. The JAC has decided to intensify agitation from tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, indefinite bandh continued in the township of Nowshera on the 21st consecutive day today for seeking district status, another group of about dozen members of Joint Action Committee sat on relay hunger strike in Nowshera town, whereas, Sunderbani and Kalakote towns of district Rajouri also continued bandh in support of their demand of Additional Deputy Commissioner’s posts.
At Nowshera town people, under the banner of Joint Action Committee, comprising members from various political parties, Beopar Mandal, Bar Association, Sanatan Dharam Sabha and some other social and youth organizations took out protest rally during the day as well in the main market. They were shouting slogans against BJP-PDP Government and also in support of their demand of seeking full fledged district for Nowshera. Several small towns of the area like Qila Darhal, Bhawani, Kalsian, Jhangar, Lamberi etc are also observing bandh in support of this demand of district.
Meanwhile, people at Sunderbani town took out a protest rally in the evening after decision of the Government. The rally started from Radha Krishan temple and it after passing through main bazaar and main chowk, culminated at SDM’s office. The town observed complete bandh and the offices were also forcibly closed by the people. The people shouted slogans against BJP-PDP Govt. The JAC has decided to intensify agitation as they have not accepted the Govt decision. They will also intensify struggle.
Meanwhile, Kalakote town also observed bandh today seeking ADC’s post. Entire market remained closed in the town while vehicles plied on the roads normally. The Kalakote JAC led by Randhir Singh and Vijay Suri has warned to intensify the agitation as they have rejected the Govt formula of rotational ADCs for Kotranka and Kalakote. They warned that they will not allow ADC Kotranka to sit at Kalakote and launch violent agitation in near future. Mogla, Sailsui, Solki and other small towns will also joint agitation from tomorrow.
Bar Association of J&K High Court led by BS Slathia, its president has accorded full support to the Nowshera, Kalakote and Sunderbani agitation and said that the demand of the people were justified.
MLA Ravinder Raina and former MLC Ravinder Singh said that decision of the Government for rotational ADCs was not fair. They said Nowshera deserved district status and at least separate ADCs should have been announced for these places.
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