Srinagar: Residents of Pulwama district in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir held a protest on Thursday, expressing frustration over construction restrictions imposed by local authorities along a road leading to the newly built All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Awantipora. The demonstrators condemned the refusal to allow building structures in the area, citing previous land contributions for significant infrastructure projects.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the protestors, who assembled near the construction site in Awantipora, argued that the ban on construction was unjust, especially since they had already surrendered land for the establishment of AIIMS and the nearby Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST). The residents voiced concerns about losing businesses and livelihoods due to road widening initiatives and emphasized their right to develop their own land.

The protestors demanded immediate intervention from higher authorities to reconsider the restrictions and grant permission for construction, underscoring the negative impact on local economic activities and community development.