Gandoh residents protest govt order on jurisdiction

Our Correspondent

Doda, October 20

People in the Gandoh area of the mountainous Doda district held a protest on Friday against the recent government decision on territorial jurisdiction of the subdivision with the Bhaderwah Additional Deputy Commissioner.

The protest, held under the banner of the Bhallessa United Front, began around 11 am at Malik Pura, Bhallessa, and continued till 3 pm. The protesters demanded the revocation of territorial jurisdiction order.

“Gandoh is 60 km from the district headquarters, but now people have to travel 30 to 40 km more to reach Bhaderwah for even marking an application in the Additional Deputy Commissioner’s office. This is not fair for poor people. We want that the order should be revoked,” a protester said.

“Gandoh is a far-flung area having a huge population of poor people, especially the Gujjar-Bakarwals, who don’t have money to reach the tehsil headquarters, but the government has ignored their plight,” said a protester.

The protesters alleged that the decision was politically motivated. “If the government is sincere about the people, it should have provided an additional ADC to Gandoh. Why do people have to go so far even for small things?” a protester questioned.

“The protest took place at two places after Friday prayers in Gandoh but remained peaceful. The protesters were demanding the revocation of territorial jurisdiction order of the government and attachment with Doda,” said Sub District Police Officer, Gandoh, Sunny Gupta.

The chairman of the front, Mohammed Hanif Malik, Mushtaq Ahmed Malik, Ajaz Zarger and Altaf Malik also spoke on the occasion and threatened to intensify their stir if the order is not revoked.