Latifpura residents protest on I-Day, wary of HC eviction

Members of SAD (Waris Punjab De) and various farmer unions extended their support to the Latifpura Rehabilitation Morcha as residents held a massive protest on Independence Day, condemning the Punjab government.

The protestors, led by Mahinder Singh Bajwa, included residents whose houses had been demolished by the Jalandhar Improvement Trust. They observed Independence Day as a ‘black day’ and approached Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal, demanding demarcation of their properties before any further action is taken.

The morcha members expressed concern over possible action following August 18, the date for a meeting convened by the Deputy Commissioner on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The double bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda had, on July 29, ordered the removal of any encroachments in the area within a month of the order being received.

The morcha leaders discussed their future course of action and urged the Punjab government to intervene. They warned that if their own government failed to support them, they would be compelled to approach the Pakistani government for help, citing their ancestral roots in Pakistan.

The protest gathering saw participation from several leaders, including Lakhbir Singh Sounti, Jaswant Singh Cheema, Baljinder Singh Lasoi, Haji Anwar Mohammad, Chand Mohammad Bittu, Roshan Singh Sagar, and Amrik Singh.