Reasi, Jun 27: The family and relatives of five-year-old boy, who drowned to death in a river at Reasi town on Monday, staged a protest against the people engaged in mining, accused them of resorting to unscientific mining practices that according to them resulted into the death of their beloved.
The deceased has been identified as Balwinder Singh (5) of Panasa of Sila panchayat in Reasi. The protesters said that a group of local children were playing on the river bank when the five-year-old fell into a deeply dug ditch and drowned.
“He was removed to district hospital Reasi where he was declared as brought dead,” the protesters, as per the news agency report.
They claimed that the people who are engaged in mining in the area are resorting to unscientific mining practices and have dug deep ditches and patches in the river which is not only against the norms but poses a grave risk to human life.
They alleged that many of these deep ditches have been dug in the middle of the river and on the river bank in the area near village pathways.
The protesters blocked the main road and accused the administration of giving a free hand to people engaged in unscientific mining practices.
Deputy Commissioner Reasi Babila Rakwal and other officers reached the spot and pacified the protesters on the assurance of looking into the demands.
