Monday, December 26 2005 17:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Quake-affected people in Uri today (Dec 28,2005) observed a shutdown and staged demonstrations alleging inadequate relief by Jammu and Kashmir Government.

All shops and business establishments in the border town and adjoining villages in Baramulla district remained closed while public and private transport went off the roads.

Slogans against the state government and local administration rented the air as several thousand protestors came out on streets demanding early release of compensation for reconstruction of their houses damaged in the October 8 quake.

The protests were, however, peaceful. Local leaders of Pahari Action Committee, sponsoring the agitation, criticized the government for its alleged failure to distribute relief in a transparent manner.

Protestors accused the authorities of failing to provide compensation to the genuine victims for rebuilding of their houses or temporary sheds.

"Cheques have been issued to fake parties and the genuine victims have been left to the mercy of the god," Irshad Ahmed, spokesman of Action Committee said adding even the Government's promise to provide immediately cash relief for construction of sheds has not been kept.

Denying the allegations, Relief Commissioner of Uri Bashir Ahmad Runiyal said government had released Rs 43 crore to the victims as first instalment.

"In the second installment we have given 10366 cheques to people for construction of the sheds and have released the money," he said.

As per the court directions, in two days we have released 3000 cheques, he said adding only few cheques were withheld for technical reasons.

Runiyal said the Government wanted to complete the job as early as possible.

"By the end of this week the process will complete," he said.

The official, however, said those "Who have dispute and whose cases were under process with the Lok Adalat have to wait till a decision comes." Mohammad Younis Baig, displaying his cheque of Rs 30,000, said it has been handed over to him on November 26 but the bank has not honoured it till date.

"I am regularly going to bank to cash it but the concerned employees were not entertaining it. The bank people say that they have orders not to release the money on the cheques," he claimed.

The residents said they were facing tough time owing to non-availability of proper shelter and accused the Government of being non-serious in rehabilitating the survivors of the natural calamity.