88-year-old man raising funds slapped with extortion charges

Ashok Raina

Kangra, October 1

The police have slapped extortion charges on an 88-year-old man. Reason: He has been collecting Rs 10 from each commuter on the Nadun-Majheen road for constructing a retaining wall. When the government failed to its job, Jaggar Nath, alias Jhofi Ram, a resident of Faqaid village near Mahjeen, took it upon himself to get the work done. Sadly, all he got in return was an FIR.

Jaggar Nath had been making rounds of government offices for the last few years, demanding construction of the retaining wall adjacent to the house of his son at Faqaid village. He also raised the issue at the Jan Manch, but to no avail. It is learnt that two months ago, the old man approached Jwalamukhi MLA Ramesh Dhawala, seeking help as there was a threat to the life of his family members. Dhawala had reportedly assured him that the retaining wall would be constructed, but the assurance turned out to be false. Jaggar Nath said he had no other option, but to raise funds for the construction of the retaining wall. He started collecting Rs 10 as toll. He stopped all vehicles, including government buses. While some gave the money, others refused. A video of him asking for Rs 10 had also gone viral. Jwalamukhi SDPO Tilak Raj said following a complaint against the old man, a case under Sections 341 and 384 IPC for extortion and obstructing traffic had been registered. Following the case, the police did not let Jaggar Nath sit along the road.

Made rounds of govt offices for yrs

Jaggar Nath had been making rounds of government offices for the last few years, demanding construction of the retaining wall adjacent to the house of his son at Faqaid village. He also raised the issue at the Jan Manch, but to no avail.