Shimla, July 16 -- Residents from several affected villages, along with members of farmers' and civil rights organisations, staged a strong protest outside the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) office in Shimla on Wednesday.

The protest targeted private construction companies, accusing them of failing to employ locals, denying fair compensation to affected families, carrying out illegal mining and dumping, and causing environmental and structural damage during the ongoing national highway projects in Himachal Pradesh.

The protest was jointly organised by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Himachal Pradesh and the Himachal Kisan Sabha.

The demonstration was led by CITU state president Vijendra Mehra, who levelled seriou...