JAMMU: The simmering discontent against Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Board (SMVDSB) headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha took an ugly turn on Monday. The shopkeepers and labourers working in Katra, the base camp for trek to the holy shrine, had been agitating for the past few days. In a sudden escalation, some protestors clashed with the police on law and order duty and pelted stones at them.
The shopkeepers and labourers are protesting against a proposed ropeway project along Tarakote route which the Shrine Board is going to set up in the coming days. The protestors often accuse the LG of being insensitive to locals and not taking them on board in decision-making processes pertaining to the pilgrimage. But this is a grouse that the locals have been articulating right from 1986 when the Shrine Board was set up by late Governor Jagmohan.
At that time, around 14 lakh pilgrims used to visit the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and the facilities available to them were rudimentary. The Shrine Board has transformed the pilgrimage adding unprecedented facilities and made the whole trek a comfortable journey. This year, over 90 lakh pilgrims have visited the shrine so far and by December 31, the number may cross 95 lakh.
According to senior police officers, the angry protestors were trying to create law and order problems, leading to difficulties for the pilgrims. Talks were being held with representatives of protestors to defuse the situation and ensure a smooth passage for the pilgrims. Officials said some policemen sustained minor injuries after being manhandled by the protesters. In a couple of videos that are doing rounds on various social media platforms, the protestors are seen pelting stones and bricks etc on the policemen.
The protestors were chanting slogans of “Bharat Mata ki Jai”, held a march followed by a dharna in Katra town, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district. Business in the Katra town has grown exponentially during the last decade after direct trains from all over India started reaching the town. Earlier, most of the trains terminated at Jammu Tawi railway station, with some trains going up to Udhampur town.
The protesters, who had initially called a 72-hour strike, extended it by another 24 hours late on Sunday evening. They have been claiming that the new ropeway project will bypass the main market and have a negative impact on their businesses.
The strike called by shopkeepers, pony-walas and palki owners had started November 22. The trigger for the protests was the Shrine Board’s announcement regarding a ropeway project between Tarakote Marg and Sanji Chhat along the 12-kilometre route. The shopkeepers and labourers have been claiming that the project, proposed to be completed in two years, would render them jobless.
During Monday’s protest, tension escalated when a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicle attempted to pass through the town while the protesters were holding the dharna. Some protesters turned violent, hitting the vehicle and breaking its windshield, the officials said.
The vehicle was moved back after police intervention, prompting clashes during which some protesters threw bricks at the policemen, they added.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Reasi district) Paramvir Singh said, “The law and order situation has become challenging and we are trying to handle it. Officers are in talks with the protesters to resolve the issue.” The protesters are demanding that the project be shut down or compensation for all those likely to be affected.
Due to a huge floating population, mainly comprising pilgrims, there are strict security protocols being followed in Katra. A SP-rank officer is now posted in the town, a DSP rank officer at Bhavan (the main shrine), besides a heavy posse of CRPF men are permanently stationed to oversee the security. On the adjoining hills too, security forces have set up pickets to check infiltration of miscreants and foil any possible attempts to impede the smooth pilgrimage.
