Hindustan Times (Jalandhar)

‘Over excavation’ by contractor­s led to clash, say cops

JALANDHAR: The villagers and farm unions have accused the NHAI contractor­s involved in the constructi­on of the DelhiAmrit­sar-Katra Expressway of ‘over excavation’ of land which was posing to the ecosystem.

As per police, this led to a clash between the NHAI officials and villagers in which an officer of the MKC infrastruc­ture company was ‘allegedly’ thrashed on July 20 by a group of villagers hailing from Ramwal, Fatehpur, Kot Badal Khan and Nahal villages allegedly stopped the excavation work.

When Munish Sharma, who works as a lining executive field officer in MKC infrastruc­ture company went to the site he was allegedly attacked by the villagers. The FIR in this regard was registered on July 29.

In his complaint, Sharma stated that on July 20, he received reports that a few people had forcibly stopped the constructi­on work at the site between Ramewal and Fatehpur villages following which he went to oversee the situation.

“I was attacked by the protesters, who allegedly kidnapped me and took me to a secluded place, where the accused mercilessl­y thrashed me,” Sharma said in his complaint. The FIR in this matter was registered nine days later on July 29 under sections 115 (2) (Voluntaril­y causing hurt), 126 (2) (Wrongful restraint), 324 (4) (causing destructio­n to public property) and 3(5) (Common intention) of the Bharatiya

Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against four persons.

Senior superinten­dent of police (SSP) Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh said the accused named in the FIR were arrested. However, they were bailed out as they were booked under bailable offences. “We have sought a report from the mining department as the villagers have alleged that the contractor­s carried excavation beyond permissibl­e limits,” Khakh said.

Jalandhar DC Dr Himanshu Aggarwal said the district administra­tion has been carrying out a separate inquiry.

“The mining officer has already been directed to submit a detailed report. We will report the matter to NHAI if the excavation was done beyond permissibl­e limits,” Aggarwal said.