Intensifying their agitation in opposition to a proposed ropeway to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, protesters selected Friday to increase for an additional 72 hours the bandh that has introduced Katra to a standstill because it was known as on Wednesday.
Led by the Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Sangarsh Samiti, the protests have seen a number of locals, together with shopkeepers, house owners of eateries and operators of ponies and palkis, come out in opposition to the proposed Rs 300-crore Katra-Sanjichhat ropeway that’s meant to bypass the outdated Katra-Banga-Adi Kunwari route of the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage. Protesters argue that the ropeway may have a serious impression on their sources of livelihood.
The bandh has led to the closure of most outlets and eateries in Katra, the place black flags might be seen at common intervals and native non-public automobiles have stayed off the roads.
Nevertheless, it has had little impression on the variety of pilgrims arriving at Vaishno Devi shrine, for which Katra acts as a base camp. In response to shrine board officers, round 20,000 pilgrims proceeded to the shrine on Friday – not exhibiting a serious dip from the 21,500 who launched into the yatra earlier than the bandh was known as on Wednesday.
The protesters mentioned the bandh was being prolonged for an additional 72 hours on Friday as a result of practically 18 of them, together with Sangarsh Samiti leaders Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Chand, had been but to be launched by police after being detained Wednesday after they tried to take out a procession within the city regardless of authorities asking them to not.
A senior police officer confirmed that a number of protesters had been apprehended on the primary day of Katra bandh. “They’ve been detained underneath preventive measures,” a senior police officer mentioned, including that “it’s not in our palms to launch them”.
In the meantime, one of many six protesters fasting since Wednesday evening at Katra most important chowk needed to be hospitalised as his well being deteriorated. The protester was recognized as Nakul Dogra.
Katra city had acquired over 90 lakh pilgrims final yr, and is anticipated to rise up to 1 crore this yr, officers mentioned.
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