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| Demolition drive against illegal structures turns ugly as people take to streets | | Police lob smoke shells, aerial firing to disperse protesters | | S Tahir-Ul Haq
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Apr 13: Thousands of people today staged protests at Parimpora here and blocked Srinagar-Baramulla Highway against the demolition drive carried out by authorities on the banks of river Jhelum. Police lobbed tear smoke shells and aerial firing to disperse the protesters from area.
The protesters were demanding proper rehabilitation and alleged that the state government is adding insult to injury to them.
Reports and eye-witnesses said that early in the morning personnel of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Roads and Building(R&B) departments reached the Parimpora area and started the demolition of the illegal structures on the banks of river Jhelum. The demolition drive triggered protests in the area with the protesters resorting to high pitch sloganeering.
Thousands of people had assembled at the Bypass Chowk near Parimpora. They were protesting against the SMC and R&B for demolishing their structures on the river banks of Jhelum in Parimpora and its adjacent areas with issuing any notice whatsoever. The protesters started stone pelting on police and passenger vehicles after which police swung into action and did cane charging in which at least dozens of people were injured.
The police personnel tried to disperse the protesters peacefully but as the protesters did not agree to call off their protest after which police swung into action and used tear smoke shells. This was followed by aerial firing and colour water to disperse the protesters.
"The state government had promised to rehabilitate us somewhere in Srinagar. Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Tariq Hamid Karra had assured us in past that our genuine demands will be met, but successive governments have not fulfilled their promises so for," said Nazir Ahmad a protester.
When asked about the illegal construction work on the banks of river Jhelum, protesters said that, "it is not only a matter of five or ten houses but there are almost thousands of illegal households who are residing on the river banks, we don't have any livelihood so how come it is possible for we people to purchase land in Srinagar district."
They asked the government to provide them a separate piece of land somewhere in Srinagar district adding that only then they will allow the authorities to demolish their structures.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr. Farooq Ahmad Lone while sharing his views said that in order to restore the glory of the river and other major water streams in the region, the High court had issued orders to demolish the houses and illegal structures. He said the demolition drive was carried along the directives of High Court.
"All the encroachments which have been raised illegally, either they are trees, structures or anything else will be demolished and no such construction will be allowed in future", Deputy Commissioner said. |
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