Katra/Jammu. Two representatives of laborers and shopkeepers were detained on Wednesday following a protest at Katra base camp against the proposal to start a ropeway project on the footpath leading to Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. After keeping them in custody for an hour, the police released Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Chand. Jammu and Kashmir Congress members, who met the Divisional Commissioner in support of the protesting shopkeepers, reached him in Katra to extend their support.
According to police, an FIR was registered against eight people on Tuesday, a day after a policeman was injured during violent protests in Katra. The protesters, led by Singh and Chand, had taken out a rally against the proposed ropeway project. Officials said police prevented the protesters from moving forward, resulting in a clash between them. Singh and Chand were detained and taken in a police vehicle and the protesters were also dispersed from the protest site, he said.
Udhampur DIG (Reasi Range) Raees Bhat said that those detained were not arrested. After an hour, both the people were released from Katra police station. After his release, Singh said, we ended the protest after the intervention of the administration. The administration had asked for time to discuss the resolution of the complaints. We gave them time, but in the last two days the police have made arrests. “Many youths were detained.” He said, during the protest, the police asked us why we were taking out the rally when we were given time till December 15.
“We made it clear to them that we are contacting the police to understand why people are being arrested,” Singh said. Police can take any action against those involved in violence. We will not support such actions. Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Congress team led by working president Ramanan Bhalla met the Divisional Commissioner in Jammu and urged him to ensure resolution of the issue. Supporting the shopkeepers protesting against the ropeway project, the team reached out to the protesters in Katra to extend their support to them. One leader said, we have come here to give our full support to the protesters.