Anti-ropeway project: Cop injured as protestors clash with police in Katra

Jammu : A policeman suffered injuries when protestors clashed with the security forces during an agitation against a proposed ropeway project from Katra to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan in Katra town of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir.
The strike has been called off by the Mazdoor Union Katra till December 15.
“The work on the ropeway project has been suspended and also our strike till December 15,” Sohan Chand Anthal, General Secretary, Mazdoor Union Katra told UNI.
He said, “We have been assured by the district administration that negotiations and dialogue will soon be initiated to find a feasible way out.”
Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Visheshpal Mahajan said, “The situation is under control and the protestors have been pacified. We have assured them that a dialogue with the higher authorities will be initiated to find a middle path to amicably settle the matter.”
Meanwhile in Jammu, talking to reporters over the incident at the sidelines of an event Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that the concerns of the people about loss of employment are being taken care of. Sinha is also the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. He however, said that there would be no compromise with development projects and creating sufficient employment opportunities. Earlier in the day, hundreds of traders and labourers including pony and palanquin owners took out a protest march in Katra town and staged a sit-in at Fountain Chowk as a part of their 72-hour-long strike announced on November 22, which was extended for a day on Sunday evening.
Law and order problem was triggered on Monday when a CRPF vehicle attempted to pass through the town during the agitation, said police.
They added that some of the protestors turned violent and damaged the vehicle, adding, “With the intervention of the police, the vehicle was moved back following which the protestors also pelted stones and bricks on the police party resulting in injury to a cop.”
Demanding the shutdown of the project or compensation for those likely to be affected, the protests erupted in Katra town after the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board announced the proposed Rs 250-crore ropeway project between Tarakote Marg and Sanji Chhat along the 12-kilometer route.