Rajouri DC, SHO hurt in Nowshera clash
Agitators seeking separate dist status hurl stones at cops, officials
Rajouri DC and a police officer were among around 20 people injured in the violent clash that erupted between police and agitating people in Nowshera on Saturday.
JAMMU: Rajouri deputy commissioner (DC) Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary and a police officer Karan Chalotra were among around 20 people injured in the violent clash that erupted between police and agitating people in Nowshera on Saturday. Six among the injured were referred to the government medical college and hospital here in Jammu.
The protesters reportedly resorted to stone pelting at security forces in the town and a baton charge and tear smoke canisters had to be used to control the protests. In view of the violence, the administration also suspended mobile internet services at around 2pm.
Nowshera sub-division is at present a part of Rajouri district in the southern Pir Panjal range.
WHAT’S THE PROTEST FOR
For the past 39 days, people of Nowshera had been protesting to register their demand of a district status for the area.
The PDP-BJP government has posted three separate additional deputy commissioners for Nowshera, Kalakote and Sunderbani areas. But the issue escalated on Saturday morning when the police force restricted a rally of agitators from heading towards the revenue complex where they wanted to stage a protest against the government’s order.
After failed attempts to pacify around 200 agitators, police used mild force to disperse them.
However, the situation turned ugly when the agitators started pelting stones at the police and civil administration officials.
The DC suffered head injury after a protester hurled a bottle on him when the former was talking to them at the Patel Chowk. Earlier, DC Choudhary had said violence will not be accepted and those who manhandled officials on duty and damaged government property will be booked under law.
Following the government’s order of posting three ADCs, the people in Nowshera had agreed to withdraw their agitation, but refused to end their protest on Saturday. “If they were not satisfied with the decision and thought themselves to be superior to others, they could have held a dialogue. There was a breach of trust from their side,” The DC said.
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday had upgraded three more sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) posts to the rank of additional deputy commissioners (ADCs) in Rajouri district.
This was fourth such upgrade in less than two months for the Rajouri district. Since February 16, normal life in Nowshera had been paralysed, with all shops and business establishments remaining closed. Meanwhile, the Congress, Jammu National Conference and Chamber of Commerce and Industry have strongly condemned lathicharge and demanded strict action against the police and the administration.
POLICE RESORTED TO USING TEAR SMOKE CANISTERS AND BATON CHARGE TO DISPERSE PROTESTERS