BHADARWAH: On the second day of the protest of MGNREGA workers over non-payment of wages, administration today imposed section 144 in Gandoh Sub Division, reportedly after protesters started becoming violent and tried to ransack offices of SDM and BDO Gandoh.
About 15 protesters including their leader Farooq Ahmed Dar were arrested today by police after a case was registered against them for ransacking public property and disturbing law and order in the area.
Yesterday hundreds of villagers from different parts of Bhalessa gathered at Gandoh and started protesting against Rural Development Department (RDD) for not paying their wages for the last three years. The protesters were alleging that the officials of the five Rural Development Blocks of Gandoh Sub Division are involved in misappropriation of funds especially that of centerly sponsored MGNREGA scheme.
According to reports, protesters today who were demanding immediate release of their wages and action against the erring officials, started pelting stones on BDO and SDM office and also tried to ransack Govt property by forcing their entry into the premises.
In order to prevent people from protesting sites, Sub Divisional Megistrate (SDM) Gandoh, Choudhary Dil-Mir imposed section 144 (joining unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapon) in entire Gandoh Sub Division, reportedly apprehending intelligence inputs that some anti-social elements might join protesters to disturb law and order situation in the area.
When contacted, SHO Gandoh Tariq Hussain Naik said ” directions have been issued by the SDM and we are implementing the order. Police has also initiated action against the violators.”
“An FIR number 59/2016 has been lodged against the miscreants and a case registered under section 452,427,353,147,504 Ranbir Penal Code(RPC). As of now we have arrested 15 violators including their leader Farooq Ahmed,” officer added.
However, today after Zohar prayers(afternoon prayer) nearly 80 protesters joined by senior National Confrence leaders Riaz Bhadarwahi tried to enter police station forcibly demanding the release of the arrested persons.
However,police dispersed the mob reportedly by using mild cane charge.
According to reports, some protesters also received injuries in police cane charge and are undergoing treatment at SDH Gandoh.
“The agitation may last for several days till the government bows to accept the demand of the poor villagers”, a protester said.
Meanwhile District Development Commissioner Doda Bhupinder Kumar constituted a four members committee, including SDM Bhadarwah, SDM Thathri, Executive Engineer R&B Doda and Accounts Officer ADDC office Doda under the chairmanship of Assistant District Development Commissioner Doda to investigate alleged misappropriation MGNREGA fund in RDD blocks, Gandoh, Chilly Pingal, Changa, Jakhiyas and Kahara blocks.