PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
The police took action against protesters in the Saat Mod area of Rishikesh on Tuesday after they allegedly tried to stop tree-cutting work being carried out for the highway widening project in the area.
According to the police, some protesters hugged the trees and tried to stop the government work. They also allegedly affected traffic movement on the highway. Police officials, along with Forest Department and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials, requested the protesters to remain peaceful and not obstruct the work. However, the protesters did not agree and continued their protest.
To maintain law and order, the police arrested 13 people including nine men and four women under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). All of them were later produced before the court. In a separate action, Rishikesh police detained four more persons under preventive provisions of the BNSS. Police said that the four were present at the protest site and could have joined the demonstration, which might have affected law and order. After questioning, they were released and handed over to their family members.
Police said the action was taken to ensure that the national highway project work continued without disruption and that peace was maintained in the area.
