Protesters demand release of rent, arrears
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec, 28: Locals of Panchayat Halqa Kanyala, block Dansal today held a protest here, today led by Anil Sharma, president All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), wherein the protestors presented their several demands related to 15 Field Ammunition Depot (15FAD, Jindrah) situated in Panchayat Kanyala.
While addressing the media persons after the protest demonstration, Anil Sharma, president of the AJKPC who is also Sarpanch of Panchayat Halqa Jindrah informed that over 40 years ago, locals of Panchayat Kanyala had given their agricultural land on rent basis to Army for construction of this Field Ammunition Depot on the assurance of J & K Government and senior officers of the Department of Defence that local youth of the area would be given preference and a quota of at least 25 percent for all recruitments for labourers for the 15 FAD, Jindrah.
Sharma informed that for over three decades, the Depot officers continued to abide by the assurance and had absorbed the local youth in recruitment as labourers in the Depot but now for the last 10-12 years, the commandants and other seniors of the Depot are reluctant in honouring their own promises.
The AJKPC president said, the locals have given their agricultural land for the establishment of ammunition depot and now they are being deceived.
It was also informed by the protestors that pending rent arrears of eight years and full rent of four years is not being paid to the landlords against the lands which is absolute injustice with them. They said “Being locals of the area, we are natural but unpaid guards of this Jindrah Field Ammunition Depot as we keep a strict vigil of any discrete unscrupulous activity near this Depot and we consider it as our duty but it should be reciprocated positively ” .
They also appealed the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh to intervene in the matter and ensure 20 to 25 quota in labour recruitment in the 15th FAD, Jindrah. AJKPC president also apprised that soon their delegation would meet Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Jammu besides officials of the Defence Department. Prominent people who were part of the demonstration and addressed the media include Kaka Ram, Gopal Krishan, Balwant Singh, Ram Rattan, Kuldeep Sharma, Bitte Kumar, Subash Sharma,Shah Mohammad, Mushtaq Ahmed, Bali Ram, Sanjay Kumar and Pedho Ram.