Stone pelting during protest by labourers against ropeway project at Katra

Jammu, Nov 25: The protests by shopkeepers and labourers against a proposed ropeway project along the trek route leading to the Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra has been called off for 15 days.

The announcement was made by the leaders of protestors after hours long deliberations with administration. District Magistrate Reasi Vishesh Pal Mahajan also confirmed it. He said that 15 days time has been taken by administration and “we have assured that the grievances of protesters will be taken up with all the stakeholders including shrine board.”

Earlier, the protest had turned violent on fourth day after protesters pelted stones on cops creating a situation of chaos and panic. The authorities had beefed up the security arrangements in holy town to deal with the situation. Police personnel from police station Katra also received minor injuries in stone pelting as protesters also attempted to manhandle the cops.

This protest was started on Friday by shopkeepers and labourers including pony wallahs working on the track of Shri Mata Vaishnoo Devi between Katra holy town and shrine of Shri Mata Vaishnoo Devi.

The protest was set to end on Sunday evening but the strike call was extended for another 24 hours. On Monday morning, the protesters were on a dharna in main town when situation turned violent after they (protesters) stopped a CRPF vehicle and damaged it's front mirror. After it a protest rally was also carried out in which situation turned violent and protesters manhandled cops and also pelting stones on police personnel and their vehicles.

Reinforcement of police was immediately rushed to holy town Katra to deal with this law and order problem . However, after talks between the leaders of protestors and administration the protests were called off for 15 days and situation normalised.