Curfew defied at several places by protesters
Curfew imposed in Rajouri, Bhaderwah
*Pathankot people too join stir, block trains

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Aug 3: Curfew was today imposed in Rajouri and Bhaderwah towns in anticipation of flare-up in tension while it continued in Jammu and Samba districts for third day today with Army patrolling the streets and staging flag march at different places. Udhampur town also remained under curfew since last night. However, people defied curfew restrictions taking out huge rallies at different places across Jammu, Samba and Udhampur districts. Similar protest rallies were taken out in Kathua district where authorities removed Additional SP Kathua Benam Tosh for not resorting to lathicharge on peacefully protesting women at Kali Bari last night and replaced him with SP Rajeshwar Singh, presently posted as Additional Yatra Officer, Amarnath shrine.

In support of Jammu movement for restoration of 800 kanals of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), being spearheaded by Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti (SASS), people of Pathankot district in

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People led by Mayor Kavinder Gupta holding demonstration by defying curfew at Old Janipur on Sunday.

Punjab in the neighborhood of Jammu’s Kathua district, disrupted train traffic at Chakki Bank for more than a couple of hours.

Bandh also spread to Poonch town where people today started a 72 hour strike while Ramban will observe a three day bandh from tomorrow.Outskirts and peripheral areas of Jammu City were rocked by huge rallies in defiance of curfew with people shouting religious and anti-Government slogans burning effigies of Governor N N Vohra, NC

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Army men checking the curfew pass before allowing a vehiclist to move in the city, at New Plots on Sunday.

president Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti. Reports said the number in rallies all across Jammu swelled with large participation of women and children.

Troops deployed in the area didn’t deter the people from coming out of their houses and hold demonstrations. Slogans of ‘Indian Army Zindabad’ also rent the air in all the rallies.

Meanwhile, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti today left Jammu for Srinagar after three days stay here while Bharatiya Jan Shakti Party president Uma Bharti was sent back to New Delhi by the administration in a train
and was not allowed to visit Baltal, the base camp of Shri Amarnath shrine.

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People holding protest demonstration at Kathua on Sunday.

Reports said a group of youths, who had burnt tyres and blocked traffic in Bhaderwah town of Doda district during the bandh, pelted stones on a bus coming from Doda carrying excursionists to Jai. The bus driver tried to break the naka of bandh sponsors and was subjected to stone pelting by the mob.

Driver of the bus and a couple of travellers were injured in stone pelting. Tension erupted in Bhaderwah prompting the authorities to impose curfew in the town. Enforcement of para-military and police was deployed in strength in the town to maintain law and order.

No untoward incident was reported from Bhaderwah after imposition of curfew.

However, as the news of stoning in Bhaderwah on a bus reached Doda town this afternoon, people from majority community took out a procession and pelted stones on the vehicle of a private school owner, Mr Chandel and some other parked cars.Later, minorities in Doda town approached the police authorities seeking protection. SSP Doda Raghubir

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Youth holding demonstration by burning tyres after defying curfew in Shastri Nagar area on Sunday.

Singh convened a meeting of both communities this evening but minority community boycotted

protesting police inaction against the accused involved in damaging the vehicles. However, majority community representatives agreed to settle the issue with minority community tomorrow saying they don’t want any confrontation or tension to build in Doda.

Curfew was also clamped in Rajouri town this morning after last night’s violence in which majority community people had damaged closed shops and parked vehicles of minority community. They were protesting against alleged thrashing of two youths at Sunderbani and Rajouri town.

Para-military and police have been deployed in large number in Rajouri town to maintain law and order. Minority community, which had given a call for bandh in support of Jammu agitation, was planning to hold a ‘sankalap rally’ in the town today.

Army was called out in the town which staged flag march to restore confidence among the people. Army has been deployed in sensitive areas of Rajouri.

Barring a scuffle between protesters of majority community and police at Darhali bridge, Rajouri town remained by and large peaceful. The protesters were trying to march towards Rajouri town to register their protest against the arrest of six persons, who were detained by police this morning in connection with causing damage to shops and vehicles of minorities. The people returned after a protest at Darhali bridge for about half an hour.

Some people gathered at a religious place and offered themselves for court arrest to protest detention of six persons. However, police didn’t arrest them.

Tension again erupted in Rajouri town late this evening when Sangarsh Samiti activists tried to take out a procession in the town at 8.45 pm. The Samiti activists burst some crackers defying curfew restrictions.

People of majority community also started beating ‘thalies’ from a religious place. Slogans and counter sloganeering from the two sides continued for about 10 minutes after which police dispersed both the groups and asked them to return to their houses.

Meanwhile, people right from Udhampur to Lakhanpur made repeated attempts to block the movement of trucks plying to and fro Srinagar. According to an Intelligence agency, there were at least 50,000 people, who tried to march towards Jammu-Srinagar and Jammu-Pathankot highways from different villages when trucks were plying on the highway under protection of Army and para-military. However, the people were not allowed to reach close to the highways.

Sources said nearly 400 trucks carrying supply of essential commodities left towards Srinagar from other parts of the States while about 200 trucks carrying Kashmiri apples and other fruits left Kashmir for other States. At Lakhanpur, gateway of Jammu and Kashmir and Madhopur in the neighborhood of Lakhanpur in Punjab, people stoned trucks but the operators managed to drive them away in the presence of Army.

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Youth raising slogans against Governor near Janipur Police Station on Sunday.

It may be mentioned here that authorities had handed over entire stretch of both highways from Lakhanpur to Ramban to Army to ensure movement of trucks to and fro Srinagar as protesters had blocked their movement at different places setting them on fire, stoning them and deflating their tyres. Yesterday, about 600 trucks stranded at different places on the two highways were cleared by the Army.

This evening, mob heavily stoned a police vehicle outside old JIC at Paloura on Jammu-Akhnoor road causing it extensive damage. Four Red Cross personnel, who had gone to Garkhal in Kanachak to disburse relief among the people whose ‘kullahs’ were torched by the mob a day before, were injured in stone pelting. Five persons of Red Cross injured in stone pelting were admitted to GMC Jammu. Of them, four were discharged after first-aid while one of them identified as Attar Singh was admitted in the hospital.

People of Pathankot, mostly the Shiv Sena activists, today blocked train traffic for a couple of hours at Chakki Bank in Pathankot district of Punjab, bordering Jammu’s Kathua district, in support of ongoing movement in Jammu.

Ahmedabad-Jammu train (2475 Up) was stopped at Chakki Bank by the protesters. Another train following it was also stopped by the mob.

However, the Shiv Sainiks lift the train blockade after about two hours and dispersed peacefully. Shiv Sena leaders Satish Mahajan and Yog Raj Sharma led the blockade.

Troubled erupted in Gandhi Nagar when a police party, returning after closing the operation of JK Channel this morning, was gheroed by the mob. The police party was beaten-up by the protesters. DySP Sawtantar Arora and a Sub Inspector sustained injuries in the clash. Protesters also tried to snatch wireless set and pistol of police but timely intervention by Army prevented the situation from aggravating.

Meanwhile, shouting ‘Bum Bum Bhole’, ‘Indian Army Zindabad’, ‘NN Vohra Go Back’ and ‘Jammu Kay Jai Chand Hai Hai’, over 10,000 people including youths carrying lathis and rods besides a large number of women and children marched towards Jammu-Akhnoor road from Muthi, Domana and Mishriwalla this morning and tried to take out a procession to Geeta Bhawan in Parade Ground defying curfew restrictions. While police kept itself away from the procession fearing a clash with the protesters, Army made repeated attempts to persuade the mob to return from the main road.

However, the agitated people surged ahead. At Machine area of Domana, Army erected large barbed wire fencing and completely blocked the road to prevent movement of the rally towards Jammu. The people, however, didn’t confront the Army and dispersed after burning the effigy of Vohra, Omar, Mufti and Jai Chands of Jammu.

While some of the people dispersed after the rally, others marched towards Janipura from Roop Nagar and attacked police station subjecting it to heavy stone pelting. Police lobbed several teargas shells and used lathicharge to disperse the protesters, who kept on re-grouping everytime and stoned police station.

After about one and a half hour long protest, the people dispersed.

Defying curfew, another big rally was taken out by the people of Pargwal island in Akhnoor tehsil on tractor, trolleys, jongas and scooters. They reached Sua No. 1 and tried to move ahead but were prevented by the Army. From Akhnoor also, the people took out a procession and made an attempt to reach Sua No. 1. They too were stopped by the Army. Massive rallies were also taken out by the people in Jourian, Khour and Pallanwalla.

In the evening, people of Talab Tillo and surrounding areas took out a huge rally shouting slogans against the Governor and Kashmiri leaders. People from surrounding areas of Talab Tillo also joined the rally. After more than two hours, the people dispersed peacefully.

Reports of people defying curfew restrictions and taking out huge rallies with large participation of women and children were also received from virtually all parts of Jammu, Samba and Udhampur districts.

People in Trikuta Nagar, Channi Himmat, Bahu Plaza, Old Janipura, Janipura Colony, Digiana, Gangyal, Shastri Nagar, Nai Basti, Bahu Plaza, Sainik Colony, Rehari Colony, Rehari Chungi and RS Pura besides several other areas took out huge rallies during the day and made a mockery of curfew which continued in Jammu district for third consecutive day today without any relaxation. Protesters marched in every nook and corner of these localities before dispersing. However, they didn’t indulge in any violence. While police stayed far behind the processions, Army accompanied the processionists to ensure that there was no violence during the rallies. In the evening, people took out ‘mashaal rallies’ at many places in the City and beat ‘thalies’ and coonch shells. Protests at several places in the City including Roop Nagar continued till late tonight.

At Dablehar, RS Pura, two 'kullahs' of a particular community were damaged by the protesters.

A large number of villagers from Patli, Soankha and Passi villages took out protest rallies from their villages and tried to march towards Bari Brahamana town in defiance of curfew. Anticipating trouble, police and Army erected fencing on the roads leading to Bari Brahamana from these villages and prevented the mob from reaching the main road. After holding demonstrations for a couple of hours and burning effigies, the people dispersed.

Though there were less reports of curfew being defied by the people in Old City, the women in all localities of Old City went on their roofs in the evening and beat ‘thalies’ and coonch shells together "to awake the sleeping Government". The ‘thali’ beating, also took place in several areas of the City.

People in Samba including a large number of women and children again marched to Jammu-Pathankot national highway and blocked the highway this afternoon. Despite presence of Army and para-military, the people kept on sitting on the highway for about three hours in defiance of curfew beating ‘thalies’. However, Army or police didn’t confront the protesters, who later dispersed peacefully. Protests were also reported from Vijaypur, Jakh and other areas of Samba.

In Udhampur town, where curfew had been clamped by the authorities last night, people took out a massive rally which passed through different parts of the town defying curfew restrictions. They were prevented by Army and police from marching towards the national highway.

In the evening, women also took out a rally in the town shouting slogans like ‘Bum Bum Bhole’ and defied curfew. They marched through different parts of the town.

The National Panthers Party (NPP) also took out a separate protest demonstration in Udhampur.

In Kathua, people held massive demonstrations at Lakhanpur and Kali Bari to disrupt movement of plying trucks. However, people at both the places were chased away by the police and para-military personnel while Army cleared movement of the trucks. Protesters also formed human chains at Kali Bari and Lakhanpur.

Kathua district, which has been spared from curfew, observed a complete bandh for 12th consecutive day today. All major towns of Kathua including Hiranagar, Basohli, Billawar, Bani, Rajbagh, Dayala Chak also observed a complete bandh.

Meanwhile, authorities tonight replaced Additional SP Kathua Benam Tosh, who had reportedly refused to lathicharge peacefully protesting women at Kali Bari on Jammu-Pathankot national highway yesterday. He has been posted in IRP 11th battalion. Rajeshwar Singh, Additional Yatra Officer on Amarnath duty has been posted as new Additional SP Kathua.

Reasi and Katra towns in Kathua district observed a complete bandh today. While Reasi town observed a bandh for 12th day, Katra town was bandh for third day today. People also took out a procession from Sita Ram Mandir in Jyotipuram area of Reasi after observing a complete bandh.

Processions were taken out by the people in Reasi and Katra towns shouting slogans against the Governor, NC and PDP leaders.

Meanwhile, a complete bandh was observed in Poonch town today in protest against authorities not allowing launch of Budda Amarnath Yatra and in support of agitation going on in Jammu. Bandh will continue for three days. In Ramban also, a 72 hour bandh call has been given from tomorrow.

146 dead in temple stampede

BILASPUR/ANANDPUR SAHIB, Aug 3: In the worst-ever temple tragedy in Himachal Pradesh, 146 devotees, including 30 children, were killed and more than 50 injured today in a stampede at the Naina Devi Shrine triggered by rumours of a landslide. The bodies, mostly of people from Patiala, reached Bhai Jaitta Civil Hospital in Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, which is about 40km from the temple site, for post mortem, Ropar Deputy Commissioner B Purshartha said.

Rumours of a landslide and rolling down of boulders from a nearby hilltop spread fear among the devotees resulting in the stampede as a large number of people trekking up and returning from the shrine ran into each other in a bid to escape.

Braving heavy rains, an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 pilgrims had gathered at the popular temple to offer prayers on the occasion of ‘Navratra’, a nine-day religious festival involving fasting in reverence to Goddess Durga worshipped as the symbol of power.

The incident took place at around 1000 hrs, Additional District Magistrate of Bilaspur C P Verma told.

As men, women and children waited in a serpentine queue to have a glimpse of the deity, suddenly all hell broke loose with people running helter skelter following the rumour of the landslide.

Children and women clutching the hands of their near and dear ones got separated in the rush to escape the landslide, realising little that they were hurtling to another form of death.

As devotees tried to outpace each other to find an escape route, they jumped over the railing along the narrow road and steep staircase to the temple, setting off a commotion and panic. Coming under the weight of the surging pilgrims, the railing collapsed, sending many people plummeting down.

Several women and children, who could not jump the railing and stuck to the regular path, were trampled upon, witnesses said.

Some devotees died of suffocation and 30 children were among the victims, Himachal Pradesh (Home) P C Kapoor said in Shimla, about 140km from the temple.

He said there was no report of a foreigner dying in the stampede.

The condition of six of the injured was serious, Ropar Deputy Commissioner said.

The injured were taken to hospitals in Anandpur Sahib, Ropar and Chandigarh in Punjab and hospitals close to Naina Devi, Kapoor said.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal cut short his visit to Chamba, where he had gone to attend the closing ceremony of an international fair, reached Naina Devi and visited the injured at the Civil Hospital at Bilaspur.

Death and cries permeated the atmosphere in and around the civil hospital in Anandpur Sahib as people went past each and every body lined up looking for their near and dear ones.

A man whose all the three children are missing after the stampede at Naina Devi Shrine is in deep shock as he visited the Anandpur Sahib Civil hospital looking for them.

Jawahar Khurana, who belonged to Rajpura in Punjab, is frantically looking for his three missing children Mohit, Vikram and Tarun at the Civil Hospital.

"Since I received the information about the stampede I rushed the spot in search of my three children who had gone to pay obeisance at the hilltop shrine. I fail to understand why the God was so cruel to us", a sobbing Khurala barely mumbled.

Sewak Ram, who lost at least five members of his family, said in a choked voice that "everything was going smooth but when the police used cane charge on pilgrims the situation turned ugly."

The people from nearby areas of Anandpur Sahib has set up a community kitchen close to the hospital.

Himachal Pradesh Government announced a magisterial inquiry into the incident and compensation of Rs one lakh to next of the kin of the dead.

Himachal MP Anurag Thakur, who is the son of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, visited the injured at the hospital.

Thakur said the State Government would take all possible steps to help the injured and those whose relatives had been killed.(PTI)

Cable operations suspended, resumed

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 3: After ensuring day-long black out of local Television channels, the administration this evening rescinded its earlier order and permitted the channels—Take1 and JK to resume telecast of programmes. District Magistrate Jammu, Dr Mandeep K Bhandari under whose orders the telecast of Take-1 and JK Channel was prohibited from 11 am, rescinded his earlier order late this evening and permitted the channels to resume their telecast subject to compliance and conformity to the conditions laid down in the Cable Network Regulation Act, 1995.

The decision to allow channels to resume their operations was taken following a meeting with the management of the television channels this evening. JK Channel Additional MD Rajinder Arora and Mir Jameel from Take 1 were present in the meeting. The ban on the channels was imposed to prevent them from giving instantaneous coverage to the ongoing agitation over Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) land row.

However, Managing Director of JK Channel, Subash Choudhary told the Excelsior from New Delhi the administration rescinded its order after All India Cable Operators Association threatened to stop operations throughout the country. He said that the channels were not making any sort of violations of Cable Network Regulation Act, 1995. Mr. Choudhary denied that management of channel has compromised its stand in the meeting, saying administration was forced to withdraw its ealier order.

Earlier, in the morning, two teams of civil officers with the assistance of large number of police personnel simultaneously reached the offices of JK Channel and Take-1 at Sanjay Nagar Digiana and Bye-Pass Road near Channi Himmat respectively at around 11 am and handed over the orders issued by the District Magistrate Jammu prohibiting their telecast.

As per the orders given to the respective management of the JK Channel and Take-1, these channels have been violating Programme Code of Cable Network Regulation Act, telecasting provocative programmes, inciting trouble and glorifying violence and hatred. The orders say that under Section 11 of the Act, the District Magistrate has the powers to seize the telecast equipment and black out the channels.

On getting information about the attack on the freedom of press, a large number of media-persons particularly those from the electronic channels reached the office of JK Channel at Sanjay Nagar, Digiana to cover the incident. However, the police personnel stopped them from performing their professional duties.

In the meantime, a large number of people from the area gathered outside the JK Channel office and started sloganeering against the district administration and police for ‘gagging’ the press. Amidst protest, the mob started pelting stones on the police personnel deployed outside the office of JK Channel.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, the cops fired several teargas shells directly targetting the media-persons and the mob. Two tear-gas shells hit Senior Correspondent of Aaj Tak, Ashwani Kumar causing severe burn injuries to him. He was immediately rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital by the members of media fraternity and later discharged from the hospital.

Due to the blackout of these local channels, the people of Jammu region remained deprived of viewing all the national news channels, which were being telecast through JK Channel and Take-1 throughout the day.

Meanwhile, the administration has also got Short Message Service (SMS) of all the three cellular service providers in the State, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Airtel and Aircel, stopped for unspecified period.

Sources said that the administration approached the senior officers of these cellular service providers last evening and got them agreed to block the SMS servers at Chandigarh to restrict the services on ‘security’ grounds.

"We don’t know as to how long the SMS service will remain down but it is a fact that the step was initiated to prevent spread of messages mobilizing public opinion against the Government for its anti-Jammu and anti-SASB stand and seeking massive support to ongoing agitation", a senior officer of one of the cellular service providers in Jammu said on the condition of anonymity.

"Though the voice service has not been stopped so far but the possibility of same meeting the fate of SMS service cannot be ruled out", the sources further said.

Samiti extends bandh by 5 days

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 3: Taking serious exception to the suppressive and oppressive measures adopted by the State Government to crush the present movement for restoration of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (SAYSS), which is spearheading the present agitation, extended the Jammu bandh by another five days from tomorrow.

"We will not be cowed down by such authoritarian attitude of the Government and stick to our core demand i.e. restoration of land to SASB", convenor, Sangarsh Samiti, Leela Karan Sharma told Excelsior.

He said this decision was taken in the executive meeting of the Samiti this afternoon at Geeta Bhawan here under his chairmanship.

Strongly condemning the rigid attitude of the Government towards the agitating people of Jammu, he said Government has adopted the path of confrontation by imposing curfew and calling Army which will have serious repercussions.

He said there is a war like situation in Jammu as Government has imposed an undeclared martial-law, as a result there is a lot of anger among the people against the present dispensation. This can be gauged from the fact that people defied curfew and came on streets to protest at various places today.

He ruled out holding any negotiations with the Government unless and until the Samiti does not get an assurance from it on the recent letter demanding restoration of land to SASB.

He warned that in case the Government’s rigid attitude continues this agitation will spread to other parts of the country also.

Mr Sharma renewed his appeal to leaders of all political parties and social organizations of Jammu region to support the ongoing agitation.

The Samiti has already given a call to all employees of Jammu region to go for one day’s mass casual leave tomorrow in support of Sangarsh Samiti’s present agitation.

Sonia speaks to Rajnath

NEW DELHI, Aug 3: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today called BJP president Rajnath Singh to discuss the Amarnath row in Jammu and reportedly sought the Opposition’s support in bringing normalcy to the region. "Sonia Gandhi called up Rajnath Singh seeking support of the Opposition to calm down the aggravating situation in Jammu," BJP sources said. Singh told Gandhi that the initiative, to control the ongoing massive agitation against revocation of the land allotment to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board will have to be taken by the Government.

The BJP has been demanding that 100 acres of land alloted to the shrine should be restored. It has lent its support to the Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti which is spearheading the agitation.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had invited Leader of Opposition and BJP leader L K Advani last week to discuss the Jammu agitation and the current internal security scenario. (PTI)

Repression won't bring normalcy: BJP

NEW DELHI, Aug 3: Expressing concern over the deteriorating situation in Jammu region caused by the Government taking back the land allotted to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, the BJP today said the Government should realise that repression, as an instrument to bring back normalcy, would not work. Stating that situation in Jammu even after the deployment of Army had not prevented the protestors showing up on the streets and blockading the traffic, BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley who was among those detained in Jammu yesterday told newspersons that the people were anguished about the wrong decision to revoke the land allotted to the Shrine Board.

He said the situation had worsened today with the security forces attacking the media and the SMS circulation was banned by the authorities. The BJP had appealed to the people to keep the protests non-violent and things would not improve unless the authorities correct the mistake of revoking the land allotted for building temporary infrastructure for pilgrims.

He said the BJP units across the country had extended their support to the agitation to pressurise the J&K administration to implement the decision of the State Cabinet allotting land for the Shrine Board.(UNI)

Curfew relaxation for 3 hrs today

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 3: The District Magistrate, Jammu, Dr Mandeep K Bhandari has ordered relaxation in curfew in district Jammu from 5 a.m to 8 a.m tomorrow.

Jammu unrest: Two die in police firing

JAMMU, Aug 4: In a fresh flare up, two persons were killed and four received injuries when police opened fire to quell violence in Samba town today as Jammu region continued to simmer over the Amarnath land row with protesters defying curfew at several places.

Curfew was relaxed for varying periods in Jammu and Samba distircts this morning while it remained strictly in force in rest of the region which is witnessing unrest since June-end over the land controversy.

Violating curfew, protesters poured on to streets and tried to block traffic on the Jammu-Pathankot highway in Samba town this afternoon, police sources said.

When cane-charge and teargassing proved ineffective, police opened fire in which two protesters were killed and four suffered injuries, the sources said.

Curfew was relaxed from 0500 to 0800 hrs in Jammu and from 0800 hrs to 1000 hrs in Samaba, officials said adding no untoward incident was reported from the two districts during lifting of the curfew.

Residents thronged marketplaces during the relaxation period to buy essential and other commodities, they said.

After the curfew was re-imposed, army conducted flag marches in sensitive areas in the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

Doctors, nurses and other staff in Government hospitals in the city took mass casual leave for a day today to express their solidarity with the agitators. (PTI)

Centre should provide ‘concrete offers’
to restore order in Jammu

NEW DELHI: The BJP today felt that the Centre should come out with a ‘concrete offer’ restoring the land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for building pilgrimage infrastructure if it wants to restore normalcy in the trouble-torn Jammu region.

Asked by reporters what could bring back the peace and order in Jammu, BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley said a ‘concrete offer’, which can satisfy the people of Jammu, should come out from the Centre, in which case the BJP too would be willing to consider lending its support. In any case the party had issued a general appeal to the people to carry out a peaceful agitation and refrain from indulging in violence, he said.

The BJP’s comments came in the wake of Congress president Sonia Gandhi calling BJP president Rajnath Singh seeking his party’s intervention to restore peace and order to end the over one-month long agitation seeking restoration of 100 acre of land to SASB.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, too, had held discussions with Leader of Opposition L K Advani to end the impasse especially when the elections in Jammu and Kashmir is on the anvil and the Lok Sabha elections, which are to be held before May 2009. (UNI)

Centre in touch with J&K Govt, to hold all party meet
on Amarnath

New Delhi : The government is likely to hold an all-party meeting to decide on the issue of Amarnath Shrine Board land controversy and has offered all possible assistance to the Jammu and Kashmir government to ensure peace in the state.

The Home Ministry is in touch with the Jammu and Kashmir government. Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta has spoken to the senior state government officials, including Chief Secretary, to inquire about the situation in the state. The Centre has offered all possible assistance to the state government to deal with the situation, Home Ministry sources said here.

An all party meeting is likely to be convened to discuss the situation in the state. The meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to be held on August 6.

Earlier, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi talked to BJP leaders to discuss the Amarnath land issue. The BJP had already announced to hold nationwide protests against the revoking of land transfer to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

The issue of land for the Amarnath shrine trust has polarised Kashmir with widespread protest in Jammu over state government’s decision to revert the land transfer.

The state government had planned to transfer land to build shelters for Hindu pilgrims visiting Amarnath cave shrine to pray by a sacred shivlingam. Faced with huge Muslim protests, it rescinded the order, sparking demonstrations by Hindus in Jammu area. (UNI)