Latifpura oustees block NH, rail traffic for 4 hours

JALANDHAR: Latifpura oustees and organisations supporting them, including some farm groups, blocked the national highway and railway track at Dhanowali, on the outskirts of Jalandhar, for four hours from 11.30 am on Monday.
The Latifpura residents, who were rendered homeless last month, also announced that they would protest during the Punjab governor's visit to Jalandhar on Republic Day. The traffic on the highway was affected and vehicles had to take convoluted alternate routes, which also faced congestion. Ambulances and marriage processions were allowed to pass through the blockade.
While some organisations have been continuously supporting the oustees and are also part of the Latifpura Murr Waseba (rehabilitation) Committee, the campaign has got strengthened after the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha threw its weight behind the oustees.
Nirbhai Singh Dhudike, president of SKM constituent Kirti Kisan Union, said the conglomerate of farm groups would continue supporting the oustees.
Different speakers criticised the state government for rendering people homeless during winter. They alleged that the state government even failed to provide basic facilities to the oustees while they were living alongside the debris of their demolished houses.
The protesters said they were constrained to block the highway and railway traffic after the state government failed to address their issues. They further said their agitation would continue till oustees would be rehabilitated at the same place. They also demanded that action should be taken against DCP Jaskaran Singh Teja, who had hurled abuses at people when houses were being demolished.