Kangra residents want police station shifted out of town

Our Correspondent

Kangra, August 27

Residents are opposing the rebuilding of more than a century old Kangra police station at the same spot and have demanded the police station be shifted to the outskirts of the town. Instead, they have sought a sarai with all facilities for pilgrims and tourists be built there. The old police station is in the heart of the town.

The Kangra police station building was constructed in 1912 during the British rule when the population of the town was extremely thin and the pilgrims and tourists visiting the town were less.

They said 38 kanal were available near the Old SDM Office in the town where a police station could be built. Local MLA Pawan Kajal said the police station should have been declared a heritage site. He further said to dismantle and reconstruct the police station was illogical. He said the pilgrims during the peak season were seen sleeping in the open and some were seen looking for hotels near the temple so a multi-complex with staying facilities was the need of the hour.

Kajal said he had listed a question on the issue in the current Assembly session.

Narender Trehan, vice-president, Sanatan Dharma Sabha, also supported the idea of a sarai on this prime location.

Ved Prakash Sharma, president of the local Beopar Mandal, said as the population of the town has increased and lakhs of pilgrims visit the town annually, a sarai should be constructed at the old site.