Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Nov 27: A high-voltage drama took place in the holy town Katra after Police detained two representatives of labourers and shopkeepers who were leading the protests against proposed ropeway project along the trek route to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
However, both the leaders, namely Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Chand, were later released after senior Congress leaders met the Divisional Commissioner Jammu and also reached out to the protesting shopkeepers in Katra to extend their support.
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Superintendent of Police, Katra, Vipan Chandran told the Excelsior that Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Chand were briefly taken to the Police Station in connection with questioning over last Monday violence by the protesters.
“The duo regretted the violence during protest demonstration and assured to cooperate with the Police in identifying the culprits who had attacked Policemen and CRPF vehicle,” he said, adding that both of them were allowed to leave after some time.
According to Police, two FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence during demonstration against the proposed ropeway project on Monday when some protesters damaged a CRPF vehicle and attacked Policemen on duty.
Even as the protest was suspended after meeting with Deputy Commissioner Reasi, the trouble erupted this morning when Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Chand were leading a protest against alleged detention of some labourers in connection with Monday violence.
As soon as the protesters tried to march towards Police Station, cops came into action and whisked away both the leaders. Both Singh and Chand were taken away from the spot in a police vehicle while the protestors were also dispersed from the scene.
Both the leaders were released from the Police Station Katra after an hour. After the release, Singh said they were approaching the police to understand why people were being arrested and why they were in the process of identifying them. “The police can take any action against those involved in the violence. We will not support such actions,” Singh said, adding that police and CRPF are our own people. He also requested the boys who threw bricks and engaged in violent acts to surrender to the police. “We do not support their actions,” he said.
Meanwhile, the J&K Congress team, led by Working President Raman Bhalla met the Divisional Commissioner Jammu and took up the issue of Katra protests before him seeking resolution of the same. Supporting the protesting shopkeepers over the ropeway project, the team also reached out to them in Katra to extend their support to protestors.
Congress leaders, including Lal Singh, Ravinder Sharma, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma and others claimed that they were earlier restrained for about one hour from proceeding to Katra.
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