TOBA TEK SINGH, Jan 21: Railway officials on Monday sealed two canteens, a hotel, stalls, shops and water pool boats in Teku Park after a court decision.

A former assistant commissioner had set up the park some three years ago at a cost of Rs2 million on 56 kanals of railway land near the station. The Teku cultural organization had collected donations from local traders and citizens for the purpose.

The park was set up in memory of Sikh saint Tek Singh who would serve the drinking water to travellers. The saint would fetch water from a far-flung area in pitchers.

At the time of the park’s construction the then railway station master was a member of its management committee. Everyone including citizens and railway officials had approved of the efforts.

Abruptly a few months ago, the railway authority had decided to sell the land of the Teku park in auction which surprised everyone. The Teku cultural organization had however succeeded in getting the stay order from a local court against the auction.

In the meantime, the DCO had also proposed the railways general manager through a letter for the allotment of land on lease to the Teku cultural organization. The letter’s copy was produced in the court on Monday, but it did not confirm the stay.

Immediately after the court’s decision, a Faisalabad railways assistant engineer and other officials reached the park and sealed it.

A source told Dawn that the district Nazim and DCO had tried to convince the railway officials not to seal the hotel, canteens and shops, but they turned down their request.