Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Aug 3: Nearly 160 Shri Buddha Amarnathji pilgrims held protest demonstration in the main market here here after they were stopped by police and not allowed to move ahead for Poonch-Mandi due to security reasons from Rajouri onwards.
The second batch of pilgrims reached Rajouri town at around 6 pm today. The police contingent reached the Yatra Ground near Dairy Farm and asked the pilgrims to take halt at Rajouri tonight as they had directions from the IGP Jammu not to allow them further due to security reasons. They said that yatra should cross Rajouri before 5 pm and if it is delayed, then pilgrims have to take night halt at Rajouri.
The yatris had some heated arguments with the police and then they started protest demonstration against the police. However, after being convinced by the senior officers in the District Administration Rajouri they suspended protest and then they were accommodated at SD Sabha Bhawan, local Gurudwara and other temples in the town. They will leave tomorrow morning for Shri Buddha Amarnathji at Mandi in Poonch.
Meanwhile, the first batch of yatris today had darshan at Buddha Amarnathji shrine at Mandi. A senior officer told the Excelsior that nearly 1200 pilgrims including those from J&K and outside, performed dharshan today. The second batch comprising of 162 pilgrims will have `darshan’ tomorrow. The Administration has made elaborate security related and other arrangements for the smooth conduct of yatra.
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