The sit-in protest by residents over the forest land issue continued for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, with people from various organisations joining in support in Rishikesh. Protesters said their rights and entitlements over the land must be protected.
The protest is being organised under the banner of the Bapu Gram Bachao Sangharsh Samiti against the inclusion of forest land in 12 wards of the Municipal Corporation. A petition regarding Bapu Gram and adjoining areas had earlier been filed in the Supreme Court, which directed the administration to conduct a survey of vacant forest land in the area.
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Following the court order, a joint team of the administration carried out a three-day survey by dividing the area into 11 sectors. Tensions escalated on the final day of the survey, during which the highway and railway track were blocked, and incidents of stone-pelting at the police were reported.
After subsequent court proceedings, the Forest Department began fencing large vacant forest plots in the area. Meanwhile, the sit-in protest under the banner of the Bapu Gram Bachao Sangharsh Samiti has continued.
On Tuesday, former minister Shurveer Singh Sajwan, Uttarakhand Swabhiman Morcha leader Bobby Panwar, Sudhir Rai Rawat and other supporters reached the protest site to express solidarity. Addressing the gathering, Samiti convener Ramesh Juglan, regional councillor Muskan Chaudhary and Suman Vihar councillor Anil Rawat urged people to remain united in the movement, stating that the forum is committed to securing justice for the affected families.