SRINAGAR: Many members of the Yuva Rajput Sabha (YRS) found themselves in police custody on Tuesday, leading to the imposition of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) near the Sarore toll plaza in Samba district.
Their detention came in the wake of a protest that had been ongoing since Monday.
Tensions escalated when the demonstrators blocked the Pathankot-Jammu highway near Raya Morh for over three hours. Law enforcement had to resort to the use of tear gas to disperse the crowds. The resulting traffic jam left hundreds of vehicles stranded in the area.
Samba’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Benam Tosh, confirmed that authorities successfully regained control of the situation.
YRS activists, joined by local residents, were united in their demand for the suspension of toll tax collection at the Sarore toll plaza. Their argument centered on the fact that a portion of the Pathankot-Jammu highway had been rendered impassable due to recent heavy rains, causing damage to a nearby bridge. This development has left commuters with limited access to the affected stretch of the highway, fueling their grievances.
