After remaining suspended for three years, authorities on Saturday resumed work on a road between Dareri and Kathyala villages in Manjakote tehsil amid heavy deployment of police as the people “showcased severe resistance”.
As per available details, the construction of a road betweenDareri to Kathyala villages was started four years ago under the Pradhan MantriGram Sadak Yojna. However, the construction work was suspended after the peopleliving in one side of the village demanded it to be constructed via their area,while another group demanded the road to be constructed as per the approved survey.Hence, the work was suspended and remained so for three years.
Officials told Greater Kashmir: “Authorities decided to goahead with the construction of road amid existing confrontation. To prevent anyuntoward incident, a heavy deployment of police as well as paramilitarypersonnel was made on early Saturday morning in the area. Three executivemagistrates were also deployed, after which work resumed.”
The officials added, “Throughout the day, people from aparticular portion of the village tried to resist the execution of work, whichwas overcome by the deployed personnel.”
On being contacted, deputy commissioner, Rajouri, MohammadAijaz Asad, said that work on the road was suspended since the past threeyears, but the authorities managed to restart it on Saturday. “The work inthe said portion will get completed within the next few hours,” he added.
Meanwhile, some locals, including Babu Hussain and Mohammad Sageer, among others, alleged harassment. “The authorities deployed a huge number of personnel and harassed us before starting the construction work,” they alleged.
SUMIT BHARGAV / PARVEZ KHAN