OKARA, April 28: Tension at Chak 15/4-L has been caused by some elements with vested interests, a spokesman of law-enforcement agency says.“The law-enforcement agencies have enforced Section 144 on the 82-acre tract to maintain peace,” he said.

A military spokesman said here on Thursday that the tenants of Chak 15/4-L had been given incentives and facilities, but five representatives of the Anjuman-i-Mazareen Punjab were disrupting peace.

They said there was a rate of Rs12,000 per acre lease in Okara Cantonment according to a contract, but the tenants of Chak 15/4-L were being charged Rs3,000 only for the same area and that, too, in instalments — Rs500 before harvesting, Rs1,000 after harvesting and Rs1,500 after the second crop.

Similarly, the spokesman said, the tenants had been assured of provision of alternative lands and the forces had already allowed the young tenants to earn their livelihood in Cantonment area.

They said the tenants during a meeting on April 7 agreed in the presence of DPO. Syed Zafar Abbas Bokhari that they would deposit some amount through a nominated lumberdar, but their leaders — Altaf Kamboh, Hakimdin, Aslam Baloch, Abdul Sattar Chaman and David Zahid — backed out of the commitment.

On the other hand, David Zahid, the AMP provincial secretary, said there was unrest in the village and the tenants were struggling peacefully for their rights and not for temporary facilities.

FOUND DEAD: A young labourer was found dead at Chak 38/GD on Thursday.