Gopal Sharma
POONCH, Aug 16: At least seven pilgrims were injured when some miscreants targeted several vehicles of the Yatris in Mandi town during bandh this afternoon while over 20,000 pilgrims along with Chhari Mubarak arrived Shri Budha Amarnath ji shrine at Rajpura -Mandi this afternoon.
Reports said that Mandi down observed shut down after some youth in the large religious procession, raised slogans. Some elderly members in the procession also snubbed the youth and stopped them from doing so. Most of the yatra had crossed Mandi town at around 3 pm and was nearing the shrine.
After this, the members of the other community started closing their shops and observed bandh in protest. Some youth came out on the road and they started shouting provocative and anti-India slogans. The situation turned tense.
Later, people at Chandak also closed the shops as mark of protest. SSP JS Johar and DC Poonch M H Malik along with some force arrived there and held discussions with the senior members of the town and the traders. They pleaded them to open the shops and also assured to take action against the youth raising such slogans to disturb peace.
When the yatra vehicles were returning from Mandi towards Poonch after 4.40 pm, some miscreants raising slogans targeted some vehicles and smashed their wind screens, window panes and rear glasses. Seven pilgrims including a JK Bank Manager, Poonch Ramesh Puri and his family members were injured. They were shifted to Poonch hospital. Two cars bearing registration numbers JK02AP/ 8703 and JK02BN/ 5315 were damaged in stoning.
The seven injured hospitalised at Poonch were identified as Ramesh Puri, Manager JK Bank branch near SK Bridge Poonch, Manisha Puri, Akshan (child), Rajesh Puri, Raja Puri, Vinu and Harish. With the help or Army and police, the returning yatra vehicles were provided safe passage.
DIG Rajouri- Poonch Range, Jhonny Williams told the Excelsior that Chhari Mubarak along with over 15,000 pilgrims arrived shrine at Mandi town safely. He said some youth travelling in the last 2-3 vehicles raised some slogans.
Some youth tried to forcibly close the market in the town but the situation was later controlled. He said SSP and DC themselves were there and they talked to the people as well. He said Police and Army in coordination with each other are keeping close watch on the situation but it has now been defused. An FIR has been registered in this connection.
Earlier, in the morning Chhari Pujan was held at Akhara Mandir Poonch by the high priest 1008 Swami Vishavatma Anand Saraswati ji Maharaj. Deputy Chairman Legislative Council, Jahangir Hussain Mir, MLA Poonch Shah Mohd Tantray, MLC Shehanaz Ganai, MLC Vibodh Gupta, local Brigade Commander, heads of Bajrang Dal, Sanatan Dharam Sabha Satish Sasan, Akhara Mandir Committee president Basant Ram and several prominent persons of the town were present on the occasion and joined special prayers at Akhara Mandir.
After Havan and Yagya, the Chhari Yatra led by Swami with highly decorated Rath started from Poonch city at around 9 AM. It was received at Nangali Sahib and Chandak by the people and then arrived at Rajpura Mandi at around 3 PM. It will have last darshan on August 18, the day of Raksha Bandhan and then Chhari would return to Akhara Mandir Poonch the same day.
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