M S Nazki 

Poonch, May 28 : Local residents of Sabra Gali village of Mendhar in Poonch district on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest against the digging and alleged desecration of the graveyard by army for construction of “posts and bunkers.”

Chairman-elect Panchayat Halqa Zakir Hussain Shah, who led the protests, told GNS that the local army unit at Sabra Gali started digging graveyard on Tuesday morning and people immediately confront them.

In the meantime, the protesters approached the concerned army and police station Balakote with regard to the alleged desecration of graves.

Zakir Hussain urged Deputy Commissioner to stop the digging of work on the graveyard which according to him was being done to construct posts and bunkers.

Reports said that a police team from local police station also visited the area and took cognizance of the incident.

SDM Mendhar Dr Sahil Jindiyal told GNS said that he will dispatch a team of officials to the spot to assess the situation.

When contacted Deputy Commissioner Poonch Rahul Yadav told GNS that he has received the information from the SDM and immediately stopped the work in the graveyard.

Meanwhile, former cabinet minister Nissar Ahmad Khan and Ex-MLC and senior NC leader advocate Rahim Dad condemned the act by army.

The leaders said that these acts now become routine in this border district and demanded action against those involved in this act. (GNS)