Protests, sits-in and hunger strikes that too in Hindu majority Jammu region negate the Modi regime’s tall claims of peace and development after abrogation of the special status of the territory. Residents of Panchyat Sahar, after a nine-day sit-in on Tuesday, started a hunger strike against the environmental degradation and exploitation of natural resources by the Modi regime under different names and connotations. A large number of people assembled on the bank of Sahar Khud in the Panchyat led by Sarpanch Bholi Singh and Naib Sarpanch, Vikas Sharma and held a protest against the mining in Sahar Kud. They were raising slogans against the authorities.

The Sarpanch Bholi Singh said that it is very unfortunate that the geology and mining department allotted a mining block in Sahar Khud which will affect the flora and fauna. He demanded immediate stopping of the mining. In Poonch, residents of Jogimorh area of Surankote staged protest against unavailability of water in their area since long. A large number of people including women and children sat on road with empty utensils, blocked Jammu- Poonch highway for some time and raised slogans against the authorities. Station House Officer Surankote, Inspector Rajveer Singh along with his team reached the spot and pacified the protestors with an assurance to take up the matter with higher authorities.

In Mendhar, people held protest against the Revenue Department and Police by blocking the road at Mendhar in Poonch district. During clashes on the occasion, three people were injured who were admitted to the sub-district hospital in Mendhar. In Jammu, Health workers and daily wagers staged a protest at B C Road Complex in Jammu city. They were demanding release of their pending wages of about 70 months. The strike and protest sit-in entered the 160th consecutive day on Tuesday.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP