Octogenarians protesters atop tower refuse to budge

Tribune News Service

Pathankot, March 31

High drama was witnessed on Wednesday as the police unsuccessfully tried to convince the two octogenarians perched on a 150-ft-high telecommunication tower to end their protest.

After a tense night, SSP Gulneet Singh Khurana deputed an SP-rank officer, Gurvinder Sangha, to hold talks with Saram Singh (82) and Kulwinder Singh (84), who are protesting against the Punjab Government’s decision to not give compensation for their land acquired in 1993 for the construction of the Ranjit Sagar Dam (RSD).

For the past 77 days, nearly 60-odd people have been holding a protest in front of the RSD Chief Engineer’s office in Jugiyal just near where the tower is located.

Dyal Singh, spokesman, RSD Oustees Sangharsh Committee, said the government had also promised to give a job to a member of each displaced family. “The government has reneged on both its promises,” he said.

Both Saram and Kulwinder spent the night on a 4 by 4 feet iron platform on the tower. The protesters claimed that former Pathankot Deputy Commissioner (DC) Gurpreet Singh Khaira had prepared a detailed report which went in their favour. “Both octogenarians will climb down only and only if the district administration assures us that the Khaira report will be implemented. Saram Singh, actually, is sick. He needs medical aid. If anything happens to him the administration will be held responsible,” said Dyal Singh.

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