Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, July 25: Hundreds of Buddhists held protest and held hostage DC Kishtwar Angrez Singh Rana as the chopper booked for the return of their religious leaders failed to reach Gulabgarh Padder yesterday and even today morning.
As per reports, Himalayan Buddhist Society had organized a cultural festival at Padder and senior Buddhist religious leaders had come to attend the fest. For the return journey of religious leaders yesterday from Gulabgarh, a chopper of Pawan Hans was booked one month earlier and an amount of Rs 1 lakh 4 thousand was also paid but despite that the chopper did not reached Gulabgarh even today morning and the leaders had to travel back by road.
Feeling the insult of religious leaders, the members of Himalayan Buddhist Society along with other Buddhist people came on roads and not only sat on dharna at Helipad in Gulabgarh but cordoned the PWD Guest House where DM Kishtwar Angrez Singh Rana was staying. Some of the protesters also pelted stones resulting in damage to window panes of guest house.
The protestors were saying that non-availability of chopper is the insult of their spiritual leaders which can not be tolerated. They demanding apology from DM and action against concerned helicopter company.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, SSP Kishtwar Abrar Ahmed Chowdhary reached Gulabgarh to control the situation.
After tendering apology on behalf of Heli Company and assurance of strict action against comapny by DC Angrez Singh Rana, the protestors dispersed off.
Due to protest at Gulabgarh, the helicopter service for annual Machail Yatra could not commence in time today.
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