Seeking electricity, Uri’s panchayat representatives’ stage hunger strike

Seeking electricity and other civic facilities, dozens of panchayat representatives have been staging a hunger strike for three days in north Kashmir’s border town, Uri.

The Panchayati Raj Institutions, including district development council (DDC) and block development council members, sarpanches and other representatives are holding peaceful protest close to the national highway in Boniyar town. “We are not provided electricity, and charged exorbitantly. When officials failed to redress our demands we were forced to hold a sit-in and hunger strike,” said Bilal Mir, an independent block development council member from Boniyar.

“Over 100 PRI’s from Uri tehsil are participating in our protest. If our genuine demands are not fulfilled we will start marching towards New Delhi wand will try to meet the Prime Minister,” he said, adding that representatives of all parties are keen to participate in the protest.