Ropeway protest: Agitators, police clash in J&K’s Katra

Police baton charge agitators during protest in Katra. Pic/PTI

The police and the agitators on Thursday clashed in Katra in Reasi district K during a protest as demands to shelve the proposed ropeway project intensified with the town observing a 72-hour shutdown called by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti, with the protesters sitting on a hunger strike to press for the release of those detained by police the day before.

"The bandh will continue until the government shelves the ropeway project. It is an assault on the livelihoods of most Katra residents, who are dependent on the pilgrimage economy," a samiti spokesperson said. The Shrine Board has decided to install the ropeway to facilitate access to the temple for senior citizens, children and others who find it difficult to climb the 13-km-long track to the cave shrine.

The samiti which claims to represent shopkeepers, pony operators and palanquin owners, claimed that the ropeway would destroy the livelihoods of local business owners. The proposed R250-crore ropeway project will connect Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat, leading to the cave shrine in Reasi district.

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