JAMMU: Protests against a proposed ropeway along the Vaishno Devi trek route took an ugly turn Monday as shopkeepers, and pony and palanquin owners clashed with police at Katra base camp in Jammu and Kashmir‘s Reasi district. One policeman was injured in the clash.
Protests began on Nov 22 after the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board announced to proceed with its Rs 250-crore project between Tarakote Marg and Sanji Chhat.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, the board’s chairperson, told reporters Monday that people’s genuine concerns would be looked after, and a committee, headed by Jammu’s divisional commissioner, had already spoken to the stakeholders to reach a consensus. However, he said, development projects will not be compromised with.
At Katra, angry protesters started hitting a CRPF vehicle with bricks when it attempted to pass by the protest venue. A policeman got injured after he was manhandled, officials said.
“We will try to find out a solution which will be acceptable to everybody,” said Vishesh Mahajan, deputy commissioner, Reasi. “We are trying to ensure no inconvenience is caused to pilgrims and others,” he added.