PoK refugees stage protest, nearly 100 courted arrest

Excelsior Correspondent

PoK refugees staging protest dharna at Panjtirthi on Saturday. —Excelsior/Rakesh

JAMMU, June 1: Refugees from Pak occupied Kashmir held protest demonstration at Mubarak Mandi and Panjtirthi areas in support of their demands and courted arrest here today.
A large number of displaced persons including women under the banner of PoK Refugees Front-1947, 65, 71 led by Rashpal Singh Chib assembled at Panjtirthi complex at around 10 am and started protest demonstration there for some time. They were carrying banners and placards depicting their pending demands.
After staging protest dharna near at Panjtirthi park outside old office of the Divisional Commissioner, the refugees in the form of a rally moved towards Panjtirthi Chowk. They held demonstration there for some time. Some refugees leaders including Rashpal Singh Chib, Ajeet Singh, Capt (Retd) Ishar Singh, Capt (Retd) Jagdish Lal also addressed the gathering.
They strongly criticised the Central and the State Governments for not addressing their long pending issues. They demanded comprehensive settlement of the refugees’ issues. They also criticized the role of some bureaucrats and alleged that they were creating hurdles in the final settlement. The Central Government has already sought details and State has to give its recommendations. After staging protest nearly 100 refuges courted arrest before Panjtirthi police. The police however, claimed that they were let off after some time.