72-hour shutdown in Katra against ropeway irks Vaishno Devi pilgrims

Demand to shelve the proposed ropeway project in Katra intensified on Wednesday with the town observing a 72-hour shutdown, creating problems for thousands of pilgrims vising the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district. Several people were detained by the Katra police during the protest.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti called for the bandh and said that all activities in Katra would remain suspended during the protest. Scores of people led by Samiti leaders Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Chand took out a protest march in the town, raising slogans against the Shrine Board and the administration, accusing them of adopting a stubborn attitude.

Samiti leaders along with the labour unions have demanded that the Rs 250-crore ropeway project that will connect Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat be shelved as they fear it will ruin their businesses.

However, when police personnel stopped the protesters from advancing, clashes broke out between the two sides. Several protesters, including Singh and Chand, were detained by the police and taken away in a police vehicle from the protest site, officials said.

Singh alleged that the government was derailing the issue and forcing the people of Katra to come on the roads. “We are demanding the shelving of this project to save the jobs of thousands of people. Instead of holding talks with us, as promised by the administration, they are using police to detain us. This is unfortunate”, he said.

Former minister Jugal Kishore said the demand to shelve the protest was being raised since long but nothing concrete was done by the administration in this regard.

He also criticised the “use of force” against the protesters. “We strongly condemn the administration’s move to use force against peaceful demonstrators. Their actions are aimed at disturbing the situation in Katra, which is unacceptable,” said Kishore.

In response to the protest call, all business establishments remained closed, and traffic was off the roads in the holy town.

Meanwhile, pilgrims expressed frustration over the shutdown, citing the closure of eateries and the suspension of local transport, which caused significant inconvenience. “We are facing a lot of difficulties. Where will pilgrims eat or rest during this three-day bandh? This is not the right way to protest,” a pilgrim said.

“We humbly request those leading the protests to call off the strike, as thousands of pilgrims are facing hardships,” he added.