Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 3: While about 3250 pilgrims, mostly from outside the State, performed `darshan’ at holy shrine of Shri Budha Amarnath, a fresh batch of nearly 800 yatris reached Poonch from Jammu base camp this evening.
Official sources said that about 3250 pilgrims today paid their obeisance at Shri Budha Amarnath ji shrine at Rajpura Mandi. About 2900 pilgrims who had arrived Poonch last evening reached the shrine this morning and performed darshan. About seven buses from Kathua and a dozen light vehicles from Jammu also arrived today directly from Jammu carrying pilgrims. They also returned after performing darshan. VHP State president Lila Karan also accompanied the pilgrims today.
A fresh batch of 800 pilgrims, most of them from outside the State reached Poonch town on third day of the yatra. The yatra was received by the members of the reception committee led by ADC Poonch Arvind Sharma and Yatra Officer Hitesh Gupta besides members of Yatra Management Committee Dashnami Akhara. They were accommodated at Akhara Mandir Sarai, ITI building, Geeta Bhawan and local schools for the night halt. They would leave for Mandi tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the VHP and Bajarang Dal activists, members of management committee Mangla Mata and locals of the area today held protest demonstration against Administration on Nowshera-Bhawani-Jhangar road. They alleged that despite clear decision and directives from Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Yatra was not allowed towards Mangla Mata by the District Administration, Rajouri. They alleged that on the directions of an ASP of the area, yatra was allowed to move towards Rajouri from Nowshera bridge deliberately.
The locals raised slogans against DC and SSP Rajouri and alleged that they have been bypassing the directives from Divisional administration and SDM Nowshera has also become silent spectator. They said that the committee had made arrangements for the yatris and later it was told that yatra was not allowed to Mangla Mata. They said plea of the Administration that yatra got delayed and reached late at Poonch on first day was not justified. They said some officers of the area adopted wrong route and half a dozen vehicles took wrong route and the yatra was halted for long on the way. Now, some officers were trying to cover up their own fault.
The agitating people also blocked road for some time and warned the Administration to block Jammu-Poonch Highway tomorrow if they continued to play with the religious sentiments of the people. For any damage or violence, Rajouri Administration would be responsible, they maintained.
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