Jammu, August 25 – On Friday, the Yuva Rajput Sabha launched a hunger strike, urging the authorities to release its members who were apprehended by the police due to their involvement in violating prohibitory orders near the Sarore toll plaza located in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district.
The police had detained a total of 27 activists from the group earlier this week, as these individuals were staging a protest, demanding the removal of the Sarore toll plaza. The group’s contention is that the toll plaza has been positioned within a distance of 35 km along the highway, which goes against the stipulated 60 km distance specified in the regulations.
In response to the situation, local authorities had imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which restricts gatherings of four or more individuals in the vicinity of the toll plaza. A representative of the group stated, “We have initiated a hunger strike to demand the release of the detained individuals. Our objective is the elimination of the toll post.”
Adding to the region’s concerns, the Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Jammu (CCIJ), had announced a call for a strike, scheduled for August 26, to protest against the introduction of smart electricity meters in the city. Additionally, traders have united in demanding the temporary suspension of toll collection along the highway in the Samba district.
CCIJ President Arun Gupta expressed, “We have issued a strike call for Jammu on Saturday. We anticipate a complete shutdown of activities in Jammu. We hope that the entire Jammu region will join us in this strike. All relevant organizations are standing in solidarity with our cause,” as he addressed the concerns of the business community.
