Protesters booked for obstructing traffic & government work on Rishikesh-Dehradun highway

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun

The protest against tree felling for the Rishikesh-Dehradun road widening project led to heavy traffic disruption on Friday near Sat Mod on Rishikesh-Dehradun national highway. Taking action against violation of the law, Rishikesh police lodged an FIR against the protesters- five individuals along with 15 to 20 unidentified people. The trees were being cut by the Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation as part of the highway expansion work.

According to the police, a group of men and women gathered at the site and opposed the tree-felling work. The protesters allegedly stopped workers from carrying out their duties and stood in front of the trees to prevent the work. Police deployed at the spot tried to convince them to move away but some protesters later blocked the national highway near Kali Mata Mandir, causing a traffic jam on both sides of the road. Traffic was restored after the police removed the protesters.

The police have named five people including Manvi, Sangeeta, Deepa Negi, Daksh and Lokesh Dwivedi, along with 15 to 20 unidentified persons in the case. An FIR has been registered at Rishikesh police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for blocking the highway, disturbing public order and other related offences.

In a separate complaint, a scaler with the UFDC Mangta Rai alleged that during the protest some unidentified people pushed him and the labourers, stopped the tree felling work and wrongfully confined him. He also claimed that government work was obstructed and that he was misbehaved during the incident. Based on his complaint, another case has been registered at Ranipokhari police station. Police said video footage of the incident is available and further investigation is underway.