Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 4: The irate residents of Samba and adjoining villages held a protest demonstration at Samba today and blocked the traffic on Jammu -Pathankot National Highway for over one hour in protest against the recent Sarore episode, murder of a forest guard and demanded immediate action against the culprits.
The demonstration was organized by Samba Maha Sabha a conglomerate of various social and non political organizations.
The protestors raising slogans against the authorities demanded action against the people responsible for attacking police at Sarore adda on February 22 and 23 and restoration of Government land illegally occupied by non locals.
There was a huge traffic jam on National Highway and the efforts of authorities failed to restore traffic on NH for over one hour. The SSP Samba Joginder Kumar and DC Samba Sheetal Nanda also rushed the spot along with other police ad civil officers and pleaded with the protesters to lift the highway blockade. However the mob did not budge demanding an assurance from the authorities that the family of forest guard Kamal Singh who was murdered by some goons in the area on February 17 this year be paid an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh with a Government job to his son.
They also demanded immediate arrest of the culprits responsible for murder of Kamal Singh, and Sarore incident, besides SHO Bari Brahmana Bharat Sharma who was made a scapegoat by the administration be reinstated immediately as the action was demoralizing for the police force. They also demanded launching of anti encroachment drive immediately in entire Samba district to restore the government land especially along the banks of river Basantar and Devika.
The protestors further demanded verification of ration cards and PRCs of the outsiders within 10 days and the report of Special Team constituted by the District administration Samba in March 2015 to probe the incident of village Chack Manga Gujaran in Samba district be made public.
The protestors said two incidents took place in the Samba district one after other which have generated a lot of public resentment. They also demanded arrest of the person responsible for thefts in Noorpur HP.
The protestors dispersed after the DC Samba Sheetal Nanda assured them that they would be given justice. She informed them that the file regarding removal of encroachments from the State land in Samba district has been submitted to higher authorities and soon action will be initiated.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
