Women threaten self-immolation

Tribune News Service

Mohali, July 25

High drama was witnessed at Phase XI here when GMADA team, accompanied by police force, tried to vacate houses under unauthorised possession at Danga Peerit (Riots victims) Colony here.

The team, which faced a strong resistance from residents and local leaders and Municipal Corporation councillors, could not initiate any action. Earlier, to stop any action by the GMADA team, several women put rubber tyres on themselves and threatened to immolate if the officials do not return. The residents also burnt tyres on the road and sat there while raising anti-government slogans.

Local Akali leader HS Babbi Badal also joined the agitators and nagged GMADA officials for vacating the houses from the occupants, who have been residing there for the past over 25 years.

MC councillor JS Mankoo, Rajrani Jain, wife of Mohali Senior Deputy Mayor Rishabh Jain, Kashmir Kaur, leader of ‘danga peerits’ sat on dharna.

“We would not allow anybody to touch our houses,” said the residents.

Meanwhile, senior administrative officials and police officials, who reached the spot, tried to pacify the agitators.

A senior official of GMADA said the action was being taken to follow the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order in this regard.

“We have already issued notices to illegal occupants. We are just performing our duty,” said GMADA EO Mahesh Bansal.