Amarnath Samiti to intensify agitation

Protesting against the cancellation of land transfer order to Amarnath shrine board, various political and social leaders on Friday vowed to intensify its agitation until the government cancels the order and recalls Governor N N Vohra.

The Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti, a conglomeration of several political and social bodies, took this decision during a meeting of its executive committee in Jammu.

"We are ready to take concrete steps which may include the bandh call for a longer period than the previous one to take the agitation to its logical conclusion," Samiti Convener Leela Karam Sharma told reporters.

Sharma said that the final decision would be taken on July 13. The Samiti had also directed several Hindu organisations in the region to hold prayer and torch processions as a mark of protest.

Demanding adequate compensation to the kins of those killed or injured during the firing by police and para-military forces, he warned that any unfair and illegal tactics by the government to suppress the agitation will result in more clashes.

Sharma said that the Samiti has been receiving support from Muslim, Christian and Sikh religious bodies in ongoing agitation for getting back the land alloted for pilgrims of the cave shrine.