Rajouri: Villagers Block Road After GREF Worker Dies Following Land Dispute

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

SHYAM SOOD

***GREF to provide paid labour work to 3 family members of the deceased

RAJOURI, MAY 17:-Tension gripped the Mogla area of Kalakote subdivision in Rajouri district on Saturday after the death of a local GREF labourer allegedly linked to stress caused by a dispute over a road widening project .

The deceased has been identified as 58-year-old Baldev Raj, son of Lakhi Ram and a resident of Jungarial village in Taryath tehsil. According to reports, Baldev Raj suffered a brain stroke at his residence late Friday night and was shifted to Jammu for treatment, where he later passed away.
As per local sources, a team from the GREF department and the Revenue Department had visited the Mogla area three days earlier to inspect the proposed road widening work. During the visit, Baldev Raj reportedly appealed to the officials to slightly alter the alignment of the road, stating that the planned widening would endanger his house and land.
Eyewitnesses and residents alleged that officials from the Revenue Department, including the Naib Tehsildar, were present during the inspection.
An argument reportedly broke out between Baldev Raj and the officials over the issue. Locals claimed that the Naib Tehsildar warned that the land would be acquired forcibly for the road expansion and that the house would also be removed if required.
Following the incident, family members alleged that Baldev Raj had been under severe mental stress and depression for the past few days and that his health had deteriorated continuously before he suffered the stroke.
News of his death triggered widespread anger in the area, and, on Saturday morning, the deceased’s family members and around 300 to 400 residents of the area staged a protest near the Mogla bridge by placing the body on the road.
They blocked the Taryath–Kalakote road and raised slogans against the administration and the concerned officials, demanding justice.
Upon receiving information about the protest, Officer In-Charge (OIC) GREF, along with the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kalakote and SHO Dharmsal, reached the protest site and held discussions with the agitating villagers.
Following assurances from the administration and GREF authorities, the protest was called off around 1 pm. Officials agreed to provide paid labour work in GREF to three male members of the deceased’s family.
Traffic on the Taryath–Kalakote road was subsequently restored. Residents demanded fair treatment and proper rehabilitation for families affected by road widening projects.