Tension in Abohar over encroachment bid

ABOHAR, MARCH 4:: Tension prevailed in the city following an encroachment bid by some unidentified persons at local old Fazilka road, yes...

ABOHAR, MARCH 4:: Tension prevailed in the city following an encroachment bid by some unidentified persons at local old Fazilka road, yesterday.It was alleged that over two-dozen armed persons forcibly stopped the construction work of Parmanand and Kalawati Maternity Home, being constructed by Shree Sanatam Dharma Sabha. The attackers destroyed the boundary wall, the pandal and pulled down the religious flag fixed for jagran.

The police role has come under suspicion, for the policemen present at the site did not stop the attackers instead allegedly pressurised the trustees to stop the construction. But the police have denied their involvement in the incidence.

State treasurer of Bharatiya Janata Party, Vijay Luxmi Bhadu, said she rushed to the spot immediately on receiving the information over the telephone. According to her on reaching the spot she found that the wall was being broken by the miscreants, even as the the trustees watched helplessly. It is alleged the policemen turned a deaf ear even to Bhadu8217;s request of interfering into the matter.

Even city Congress president Sudhir Nagpal reached the spot on receiving the information along with some people. The attackers had to leave the spot as many trustees and people from surrounding areas started gathering at the site.

Later on trustees along with city Congress leaders, office-bearers of Yuva Beopar Mandal, Main Bazar Association, Nai Abadi Market Association and others met Zora Singh Maan, MP, and complained against the police party present at the site and demanded arrest of culprits.

Vinod Singla, general secretary of the trust, was injured in the incident.It needs to be mentioned here that Kalawati Sachdeva had donated more than five canals of land and over Rs five lakh to Shree Sanatam Dharam Sabha to construct a charitable maternity hospital. However, the land was encroached upon later and vacated only when Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal intervened into the matter when approached by Vijay Luxmi Bhadu and others.

The land was vacated on Saturday with the help of administration and police, and the foundation stone laid down and a Board of Trust was also installed. DSP Gurmeet Singh Randhawa was not available for comments as he had reportedly gone to Chandigarh yesterday.

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Meanwhile, many social organisations, political parties and various unions have condemned the incident. Vinod Sharma Lalli, general secretary of the city Congress and chairman of Sadar Bazar Association said that an emergent rally was held yesterday evening by different trade associations and political and social organisations and the incident condemned in strong terms.