Civil society protests in Handwara against stalled medical college construction
Protesters warn of widespread agitation if work not resumed within 10 days
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, members of the Civil Society Forum Handwara staged a silent protest at Chogal, calling on the authorities to immediately resume the long-pending construction work of the Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara, which has remained suspended for nearly a year and a half.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the protesters said the delay has deprived the area of a critical healthcare facility, placing an additional burden on the local population already struggling with limited medical infrastructure. Mudasir Tantray, one of the participants, said the prolonged halt in work was causing immense hardship to residents in Handwara and adjoining areas.
“The prolonged halt is causing immense hardship to the local population, who are in urgent need of better medical infrastructure,” he said.
The Civil Society Forum urged the authorities to intervene without delay and ensure the immediate resumption of all pending construction activities at the Chogal site. Another participant, Liyakat Ali Khan, stressed that the timely completion of the GMC is vital for strengthening healthcare services in the entire region. “It is the need of the hour that work at the Chogal site resumes without further delay,” he added.
The Forum also issued a warning, stating that if the authorities fail to resume construction within the next ten days, they will launch a stronger, large-scale agitation. The proposed protest will be supported by the Traders Federation, Transport Federation, Druggists and Chemists Association, and several other local groups.
The participants reaffirmed their commitment to continue peaceful protests until the long-pending project is completed, stressing that Handwara’s healthcare demands cannot be ignored any further.
