Rajouri residents block highway, demand bridge over Sukhto

Shyam Sood

Advertisement

Rajouri, May 20

Inhabitants of Tarkundi, Panjgrain, Taryala and Khankari villages in Rajouri district today held a protest against the district administration and blocked the Jammu-Poonch highway for about three hours, demanding a bridge over the Sukhto river at Ghambir Brahmna.

More than 300 persons, including students, took part in the protest. The protest was led by Zakir Iqbal, naib sarpanch of Panjgrain, Zakir Iqbal, advocate, and Mohammad Akbar, naib sarpanch of Tunditrar.

They said for the last more than 65 years, the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) and the state government had failed to construct a bridge over the Ghambir Brahmna-Border road at Ghambir Brahmna in Manjakot tehsil of Rajouri.

“More than 50,000 people of these border villages, including schoolchildren and government employees, and soldiers manning the border have been facing difficulty in crossing the river in the absence of the bridge,” said Zakir Iqbal. He said earlier they would use a culvert, built by the Engineering Unit of the Army, to cross the river till 2005, but it was washed away.

He added that during the floods, the residents of the villages and Army personnel have to wait for days for the river water to recede so as to cross the river.

“This important defence road connects the Jammu-Poonch highway with the ridge road (road along the Line of Control from Veer Bhadhareshwa to Bhimber Gali) and is important as soldiers carry ration and weapons to the sensitive forward areas such as Tarkundi and Kangagali,” said Mohammad Qayoom, sarpanch of Panjgrain.

On April 28, villagers had held a protest at Ghambir Brahmna and blocked the Jammu-Poonch highway.

The Deputy Commissioner of Rajouri had later visited the spot and directed GREF officials to start construction work on the bridge.

On getting information about the protest, Hamid Choudhry, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Saheen Mirza, Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Manjakot, and Amir Rather, tehsildar, rushed to Ghambir Brahmna.

After consulting the GREF officials, the officers assured the people that the GREF would soon press more men and machinery into service for the construction of the bridge.

On the assurance of the tehsildar, the protesters dispersed.

“We have warned the authorities of blocking the Jammu-Poonch highway for a whole day after 15 days if the GREF fails to start construction work on a large-scale,” said Zakir Iqbal.

“The GREF authorities have already started digging land for raising pillars. They have been asked to expedite the construction work and they have agreed to do so in the next few days,” said Amir Rather, tehsildar.

“Two girl students and two soldiers were washed away in the recent flash floods followed by torrential rain, but were saved by people. People have to cross the river on foot as they have no alternative,” said Zakir Iqbal.

The important border road was constructed by the Engineer Regiment of the Army in 1950-51 after the 1947-48 war with Pakistan.

Sarpanch Mohammad Qayoom said in 1961-62, the road was handed over to the GREF for maintenance and further expansion, but the GREF authorities have failed to construct a bridge on the river at Bhambir Brahmna.