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SHO hurt, CRPF truck damaged as protest against Vaishno Devi ropeway project turns violent in Katra
Policeman injured, CRPF vehicle damaged as march by shopkeepers and labourers turns violent at base camp for Vaishno Devi shrine on fourth day of protest against the decision to proceed with project that they fear would render them jobless in two years.
A police officer was injured and the windshield of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) truck damaged as protests against the proposed Vaishno Devi ropeway project turned violent in Katra on Monday. Hundreds of protestors assembled at the Baba Shridhar Chowk in the morning, where Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Jamwal addressed them and warned the administration to desist from the project.
In limbo since 2021 amid stiff opposition by the local traders, ponywallas, pithuwallas and palanquin owners who fear loss of livelihood, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has decided to construct the ropeway that will reduce the 13-km trek to the cave shrine to a six-minute ride.
Amid slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Aaj Humara Dharna hai, Jeena Hai Ya Marna Hai”, hundreds of protesters held a sit-in at Shridhar Chowk in Katra town. Tensions escalated when a CRPF vehicle attempted to pass through the town.
During vociferous protests under the aegis of Mazdoor Union, protestors went berserk and pelted stones at a police party led by Katra station house officer (SHO) inspector Chaman Gorkha. The SHO and other policemen fled the spot but the officer suffered minor injuries on his left leg.
The protestors also damaged the windshield of the CRPF truck and tried to take out a march from Shridhar Chowk to Shrine Board’s central office in Katra.
Strike called off after DC’s assurance
However, sensing the seriousness of the situation, Reasi district commissioner Vishesh Pal Mahajan and senior superintendent of police (SSP) Paramvir Singh rushed to Katra and pacified the protesters.
The DC assured the protesters that the government would address their concerns, adding, “We are fully aware about the concerns of the protestors. We requested the shrine board and the work for the ropeway has been stopped till December 15.”
“I have suggested they form a panel of representatives and the matter will be deliberated upon. I am confident that the issue will be resolved amicably,” he added.
The three-day strike, which was extended by 24 hours late on Sunday, called by shopkeepers, ponywallas, pithuwallas and palanquin owners began on November 22 after the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board announced plans to proceed with the ₹250-crore ropeway project between Tarakote Marg and Sanji Chhat along the 13-km route.
Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Jamwal, who led the protesters, said, “Following assurances by the DC, the strike has been called off till December 15. The administration has assured to find out an amicable solution and the work on the ropeway project will not be resumed till demands of the protestors are fulfilled.”
The Shrine Board, meanwhile, had started spade work for the project around five days ago.
The near-10,000-strong ponywallas, pithuwallas and palanquin owners with the Katra municipal corporation fear a loss of their livelihoods to the ropeway project, which is proposed to be completed in two years.
Reasi SSP Paramvir Singh said, “For the past three days, the protests were on and today it turned violent. The stone pelting took place for a couple of minutes in which SHO Katra (Chaman Gorkha) suffered minor injuries on his left leg. We immediately controlled the situation. Following assurances by the administration, the strike has been called off.”
Protesters are demanding that the project be shut down or they be compensated with ₹20 lakh each.
Concerns will be taken care of: L-G
Lieutenant governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha, meanwhile, on Monday said the genuine concerns of the people protesting against the proposed ropeway project will be taken care of.
Sinha, who is also the chairperson of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, said a committee headed by the divisional commissioner of Jammu had already talked to the stakeholders to build a consensus on development projects.
“Concerns with regard to loss of employment are being taken care of. However, there would be no compromise with development projects and creating ample employment opportunities for the people,” he told reporters during the review of Tawi Riverfront project in Jammu.
The project had been shelved in the past due to similar protests.
On November 18, the Shrine Board had announced implementation of the long-awaited ropeway project to facilitate a safer and faster journey for the pilgrims.
“We have elderly people, specially-abled and medically unfit yatris, who want to undertake this pilgrimage, which has a 13 km difficult and steep trek. At the same time the helicopter served has limited capacity. And, therefore, they could not undertake the pilgrimage,” Shrine board CEO Anshul Garg had said.
“To overcome this gap and meet the demand, we are mulling a ropeway project, which has been under discussion for quite some time. The Shrine Board has finally decided to come up with the project but at the same time we would accommodate and address the concerns of the locals of Katra,” he said.
Once completed, the ropeway is expected to revolutionise the pilgrimage experience, making it safer, faster, and more inclusive for millions of devotees annually.
