Eating joint at war memorial finally sealed

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, February 15

The impasse over the eating joint at the war memorial in Dharamsala ended today with the district administration finally sealing it after a three-day struggle.

The duty magistrate, along with a heavy contingent of policemen, came to the spot this morning and sealed the premises. Unlike the last two days, the person running the eating joint did not provide any resistance to the duty magistrate.

For the last two days, the duty magistrate was not allowed to seal the eating joint by BJP leaders, led by HPCA spokesperson Sanjay Sharma. The person running the eating joint had also alleged that he was being victimised by leaders of the ruling party since he was a Dalit.

Meanwhile, the martyrs memorial society that was running the affairs of the war memorial had condemned the move to politicise the issue of eviction of the tenant from the premises of the war memorial.

In a press note here today, Col GB Thapa (retd) said the eating joint was being run on the property of the war memorial. The eviction of the tenant was ordered by the Dharamsala SDM court. Some elements were trying to politicise the issue which was unfortunate, he said. Sources here said the evicted tenant had meanwhile moved court for relief.

Though the administration and the police have take action in the present case, it remains to be seen if other culprits who have illegally occupied government properties also face similar action.