India, Nov. 4 -- Protesters who marched over 300km from Chaukhutia in Almora to Dehradun demanding better healthcare facilities in the hill regions were stopped by the police near the Rispana bridge on Tuesday as they attempted to gherao the Uttarakhand Assembly during its ongoing session.

The march, which started on October 24, began with a demand for a comprehensive healthcare policy to strengthen medical infrastructure in the state's hilly areas. The protest is part of the continuing "Operation Swasthya" movement that started on October 2 in Chaukhutia under the leadership of former soldier Bhuvan Kathayat. Over time, the agitation grew into a major public campaign involving thousands of villagers, including women, children, and the e...