Women lead protest in Nagrota Surian

On the 15th day of the relay fast launched by the ‘Save Nagrota Surian Development Block Sangharsh Samiti’, hundreds of women from nearby gram panchayats gathered in Nagrota Surian town, Jawali subdivision, to support the movement. Chanting slogans against the government and holding placards demanding the protection of the block development office, the women took out a protest march from the office, passing through the main bazaar and bus stand.

The march was led by Rajni Mahajan, chairperson of Nagrota Surian gram panchayat, and Rimpal Katoch, chairperson of Khabbal panchayat. A memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister and Governor was submitted through the local tehsildar, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the government notification relocating the over 50-year-old block development office from Nagrota Surian to Jawali.

A large police presence was deployed to maintain order during the demonstration. The women protesters warned they would join the ongoing relay fast if the notification issued on June 10 is not revoked.

Meanwhile, six residents of Jarot gram panchayat — Ashok Kumar, Vijay Nag, Vishal Singh, Hans Raj, Pawan Dhima, and Sudesh Kumar — began an indefinite relay fast on the premises of the block development office in support of the samiti.