Bhat Yasir
On Monday, residents living along the banks of river Jehlum staged a protest at Press Enclave, Srinagar, raising demand of rehabilitation.
Reportedly, the protesters have been living in sheds that stretch from the Dubji Ghat to Fatehkadal, on both sides of banks of river Jhelum, in Srinagar district. “In 2012, the government demolished our sheds and assured to rehabilitate us,” the protesters said.
“We were living in boats. When they broke down, we made sheds from their wood and started living,” a protester said. He added that “In 2012, the government demolished our sheds and assured us that they will rehabilitate us within four days, but did not, so far.”
While raising slogans demanding justice, the protesters said that they should be rehabilitated like the residents of Dal Lake were rehabilitated at Rakhi Arath.
The protestors said that they visited several officials for the redressal of their demand but to no avail. “We collect ₹50 per family and then spend it to visit offices of the higher authorities,” the protesters said.
“I want to ask the Governor if you’re telling that you have been helping the poor, then why has our demand not been fulfilled despite 12 years having passed,” said a protester. “Listen to us. We are also poor,” he added.
The protesters appealed to the Lt. Governor, Jammu Kashmir, and demanded the rehabilitation of one hundred twenty households.
“If you don’t want to rehabilitate us or give us land for rehabilitation then shoot us.www.parkviewortho.com/wp-content/languages/new/bactroban.html We are 120 households,” one of the protesters said.