Locals protesting against investigations being undertaken by a committee constituted by the Supreme Court to look into the leasing of 2,866 acres of reserved forest land in Rishikesh, blocked the highway and railways tracks for several hours on Sunday and also resorted to pelting stones at the police and forest department officials.
Protesters staged a sit-in on the railway tracks in the Mansa Devi area at 4 pm, forcing the Rishikesh-bound Barmer Express to halt for around four hours. They also blocked roads, following which Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police, Ajay Singh, reached the spot to remove the blockade and restore traffic.
On December 22, the Supreme Court had passed an order to constitute an inquiry committee in the case of reserved forest land under lease after a petition was filed by one Anita Kandwal, alleging that the valuable land belonging to the government is being bought and sold freely by local people on a stamp paper worth only ₹100.
Following the Uttarakhand government’s constitution of an investigation committee that has been surveying the forest land for two days now, those involved in the alleged buying and selling of land leased by the forest department began protesting.
Meanwhile, the SSP said those inciting the public against the inquiry committee’s actions have been identified, and cases registered against them. The police also conducted a ‘flag march’ in the Shyampur area of Rishikesh to maintain law and order.
The investigation committee is required to submit its status report to the Supreme Court before January 5. It is continuing its on-site measurement work in areas like Bapu Gram, Shivaji Nagar, Meera Nagar, Nandu Farm, Malviya Nagar, Amit Gram, Mansa Devi, etc.
Also Read: SC order: U'khand sets up inquiry into forest land lease case
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