𝔉Eighteen people detained by the police during protests against the ropeway project in Katra, the base camp of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, were released, sparking overnight celebrations in the holy town.
𒐪The Jammu and Kashmir administration has constituted a four-member committee to hold talks with the protesters.
𝔉Eighteen people detained by the police during protests against the ropeway project in Katra, the base camp of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, were released, sparking overnight celebrations in the holy town.
💮The Jammu and Kashmir administration announced the release of the detainees on Tuesday night and constituted a four-member committee to hold talks with the protesters. Work on the ropeway would be suspended till the committee holds talks with the protesters.
🍒"Eighteen detained individuals, including some leaders, were released around 1 am from Reasi and Udhampur jails. They arrived in Katra to jubilant celebrations, where hundreds of people welcomed them," said a spokesperson for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti.
🔯He added that the reopening of shops and businesses was underway, and the government-formed committee would hold discussions over the ropeway project.
♏"The government has succumbed to our hunger strike. They have released our leaders, marking the first step towards our victory. We will continue our fight to shelve the ropeway project," said a youth participating in the hunger strike.
🌼The Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor formed a four-member committee, which includes the divisional commissioner, CEO of the Shrine Board Dr. Ashok Bhan, and board member Suresh Sharma, to resolve the issue.
♍The divisional commissioner, flanked by samiti leaders and the additional director general of police, assured that all concerns would be addressed during the committee's scheduled meetings.
ﷺA samiti representative confirmed the administration’s decision to release all detainees. "Shops will reopen, and we hope no one disrupts this process. This decision is in everyone's best interest," he said.
💛Katra the basecamp of Mata Vaishnodevi remained shut for one week due to the shutdown against against the proposed ropeway project in the Trikuta hills of Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district.
✤The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti called for the shutdown last Wednesday, declaring that all activities in Katra would remain suspended during the bandh.
ไSeveral protesters, including two samiti leaders—Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Chand—were detained by the police during a march last Wednesday.
෴Last month, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board announced plans to install a ropeway to improve access to the temple for senior citizens, children, and others who struggle to climb the 13-km-long track to the cave shrine.
༒The proposed Rs 250-crore ropeway project aims to connect Tarakote Marg to Sanjichhat, leading to the cave shrine in Reasi district.