PESHAWAR, Dec 11: Leaders of kutcha abadis union were arrested and sent to jail for agitating against the demolition of their houses by Pakistan Railways on Monday.

A press release of Pakistan Railways says: “Amjad Hussain Shola, patron of the union, and his brother Dilawar Hussain Butt, with the help of some other people, whose houses were demolished, tried to block the road. But their attempt was foiled by the district police”.

They were also charged for chanting anti-Pakistan slogans.

Talking to Dawn here on Tuesday, the victims of Loco Shed Colony refuted the claim of railways authorities that the authorities had sent them various notices to vacate houses. Some 15 houses had been demolished yesterday without any prior notice or information, they added.

“In a sudden move, the authorities on Monday came and started demolishing our houses,” said Maqbali Khan, resident of the colony.

The victims said that a few days ago the railways had cut water and power supply to kutcha abadis on the advice of a high official of the department. They voiced concern over the loss of their property at the hands of authorities.

The press release clarified that some outsiders had encroached railways land in official residential colonies in Peshawar.

The railways had issued them notices time and again to vacate the area.

It claimed to have demolished ten unauthorised houses, including the houses of Haji Sultan and Amjad Hussain.