As protests threaten to explode over an accident involving some workers at an under-construction hydropower plant in Kishtwar, protesters are facing an FIR while a local BJP MLA has accused their agitation of a communal angle.
An ‘open’ police FIR was registered on December 6 against the unidentified protesters after a written complaint was lodged by the ambulance driver and the medical superintendent of the government hospital in Kishtwar, where the accident victims were brought.
The protestors termed the police action as a ‘threatening’ tactic to quell the anger over various issues against the hydropower project.
Kishtwar SSP Javid Iqbal said the medical superintendent alleged that the protesters had obstructed doctors from treating people injured in the accident and damaged hospital property. The ambulance driver has alleged that he was beaten up by two people.
While no one has been arrested, the police have so far questioned 50-60 people and are trying to zero in on those who vandalized the hospital property and assaulted the driver, the SSP said.
On December 4, two people were killed and a dozen more injured when a vehicle carrying workers of the Pakaldul Power Plant fell into a ditch at Dangduru in Kishtwar district. After the police and ambulance were accused of being late at the scene, other activists took the victim to the hospital themselves. They were further annoyed that no official of the company that built the power plant had come to the hospital.
Soon, the protesters raised slogans against Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner, local BJP MLA Sunil Sharma and Lt Governor Manoj Sinha. And later, allegations of lack of specialist doctors and inadequate medical facilities in the hospital. Former PDP MLA Firdous Tak also joined the protest.
It is reported that a roller operator was killed by a tanker at the site of the same hydropower project last month. The protestors led by Kishtwad District Development Council (DDC) President Pooja Thakur staged a sit-in outside the Kishtwad Police Station demanding compensation for the family of the deceased including his wife and five daughters.
After that protest, Kishtwar Assistant Commissioner, Revenue and representatives of Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited (CVPPL) met the protester and agreed to pay Rs 20 lakh to the family of the deceased in writing, apart from his insurance claim. Salary of the deceased to his widow until the company works on the project.
Tak said that people are angry with the power project company for not following the standards of environment, safety and labor welfare. “Anyone who speaks or dares to challenge their monopoly is silenced by the administration,” he said.
Tak cited the example of the Kishtwar district magistrate slapping a tough Public Safety Act (PSA) against five trade union leaders last month. Tak said that he had to face action for trying to provide employment to locals.
However, the Kishtwar district administration said those arrested under the PSA had “anti-national” and “anti-social records” and made no effort to amend them. “They were suspected of posing a threat to public order and security of the state,” an official said.
In the latest incident, an FIR was registered against the protesters two days after their protest at the hospital. Tuck said after BJP MLA Sharma attacked them at a rally organized by an organization called Kishtwar Sanatan Dharma Sabha against “atrocities against Hindus” in Bangladesh.
Speaking at the rally, Sharma accused the movement of having an agenda and asked what the protesters wanted at the hospital. “Do you want to communalize the situation? Of a particular religion, whether he is an officer, a student, an LG, he is making his target. What is your problem, tell me. By accident, stop sectarianism from failing (Do you want to make the situation communal? You are targeting people of a particular religion, be it an officer, MLA or LG. Tell me what is your problem. Stop using accidents to spread communalism)” Sharma said.
The BJP MLA added: “If we can come to the support of Hindus in Bangladesh and oppose the atrocities against them, it is also our responsibility to protect them (Hindus) here. And we know how to do that.”
Referring to earlier protests over the death of a roller operator in November, Sharma equated the two to the situation “created” before the 2013 communal riots in Kishtwar, in which both Hindus and Muslims were killed and around 80 injured.
Tak said: “Criminal action (by the police) is collective punishment for the Kishtwar community for standing up and speaking out against injustice.”
Pooja Thakur, Kishtwar DDC chief and National Conference leader, said that the Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar had handed over concessions to the victims of the December 4 accident as on November 1. She also demanded proper compensation for the injured.
Five hydropower projects in Kishtwar district, all located on the Chenab river, include the 1000 MW Pakal Dul project, the 930 MW Kirthai 2 plant, the 850 MW Ratale project and the 624 MW project each. In Kiru and Kwar.
Although both the Central and J&K governments are talking about employment opportunities for local youth in these projects, according to residents, they are not even engaged in unskilled jobs.
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