STATE TIMES NEWS
KATHUA: The oustees of Ranjeet Sagar Dam Basohli whose land was brought under this dam, held a protest and blocked the National Highway against non-payment of their compensation for decades together leaving them without any source of earning livelihood. The protest was held under the leadership of Tejinder Singh Goldy President Dam Sangathan Samitti.
These poor people who exhausted all the channels and even approached their elected representative Choudhary Lal Singh who is a Cabinet Minister, continued to suffer as none from the authorities came to their rescue.
Immediately on receipt of information, the Kathua Police reached the spot and asked the protesters to open the road but they said that they had no other alternative but to take this recourse to attract the attention of the senior authorities.
Meanwhile, the ADC Kathua Bharat Bhushan and Dy SP Dr. Kuljeet Singh reached the spot and issued orders to the police to resort to Lathi-charge to disperse them in view of section 144 imposed in the area.
The protesters later went to the Deputy Commissioner Kathua and explained their demand. The DC who gave a patient hearing assured them that their case will be taken up with concerned authorities for early redressal.
Meanwhile, many political leaders and NGOs condemned the use of force on the protesters who were peacefully protesting for their demand.
