The clash between shopkeepers Chakrata and soldiers of 22 establishment, a military station establishment to train Tibetans, in Chakrata, yesterday has forced the district administration to order an inquiry and registration of cases against an officer and his subordinates. On Sunday, two jawans of the 22 establishment had an altercation with a photographer in the market, after which the two went away to their camp. They came back a little while later with others led by one Captain S Giri. The soldiers allegedly ransacked a few shops and beat up shopkeepers. Four motorcycles were also damaged in the attack. Meanwhile, to protest against the attack, the shopkeepers sat on a dharna on the main road and forcefully closed down the markets in Sahiya and Kalsi towns. Senior officers from the establishment visited the shopkeepers and assured them of action against the guilty. An inquiry by Additional District Magistrate (ADM) VK Sharma was ordered by District Magistrate Rakesh Kumar. Meanwhile, the Uttaranchal Panchayati Raj and Sports Minister Pritam Singh and former legislator and BJP leader Munna Singh Chauhan demanded that the 22 establishment, which is under the Union Home Ministry, should be immediately shifted out of Chakrata.
