Katra ropeway clashes: Police arrest two labour leaders

Srinagar, Nov 27: Two labour union leaders were arrested in Jammu's Katra following the violent clashes between traders and police after the former protested the proposed ropeway line from Katra town to the Hindu shrine of Vaishno Devi in the area.

The shopkeepers, fearing that the ropeway line would decrease the footfall in the market and consequently hitting their businesses, they assembled in the town on Monday, protesting against the move. The protests turned violent with stones pelted on police. Shopkeepers were seen beating a couple of cops as well.

Following the clashes, officials said, two labour leaders were arrested in raids across the town.

They identified the leaders as Bupinder Singh and Sohan Chand.

"These leaders led four-day-long protest in Katra against the installation of a new ropeway while incident of stone pelting and L&O problem were also reported day before yesterday," official sources told Greater Kashmir.

Police have also booked many protestors for stone pelting and manhandling of cops including the area SHO, officials said.