Jammu, Aug 18: The Royal Complex at Mubarak Mandi was turned into fortress by restricting movement on all routes leading to the surrounding localities, courtesy chief minister Omar Abdullah’s visit to the historical seat of Dogra regime that is being developed as a heritage site.
In sharp contrast to government’s claims of resorting to least public harassment, the residents of Mubarak Mandi localities, shopkeepers and pedestrians were put to great hardships by restricting their movement to the complex for about three hours.
 While the people crossing through the complex to reach localities beyond the royal palace were subjected to rigorous frisking by security personnel deployed in large numbers, Doda migrants and home guards, who had been sitting on dharna outside the office of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu since  past four years, had to face police anger when they refused to lift their ‘dharnas’.
 They were ‘forcibly’ evicted out from the complex and even at least 10 female members of the home guards were taken into preventive custody for six hours. The security personnel allegedly removed all banners of home guards, while tents erected by Doda migrants and home guards were seen occupied by the police cops.
 The commuters and local residents also complained ‘sheer misbehaviour’ by the police personnel deployed there. “The commuters were forced to take a narrow lane while the entire complex was barricaded to facilitate the CM’s security cover who stayed there for just for half an hour,” said Rakesh Gupta , a local resident said.
 Kamla Sharma, president All J&K Home Guards Association alleged that the members sitting on dharna were evicted forcibly with cops threatening us of dire consequences in case of resistance. While the male members of the association managed to escape female, members took shelter in a temple near Panjthirthi area but the police cops forcibly picked up them and shifted to City Police Station. We could not understand why police cops picked up our members from temple,” she maintained.
 The home guards had been sitting on dharna outside the office of Divisional Commissioner Jammu since November 9, 2006 seeking regularization of their services and enhancement of monthly wages.
 The Doda Migrants Association members also accused   police personnel of harassing the members. They said that police asked forced them to leave the place in view of the Chief Minister’s visit last night and did not allow us to meet the Chief Minister, they lamented.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
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