Sixty two days long agitation and 39 days consecutive bandh, during which majority areas of Jammu region not only put up a united face but converted the strike into a mass movement which spread even in rural and remote areas creating a history, has finally led to the victory of the people of the region with the Government and Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (SAYSS) striking an agreement at 4.40 am on Sunday morning after nearly 9 hours marathon meeting during fourth round of talks, which started at 8 pm tonight exactly a week after the three rounds of dialogue were held last Saturday.

Only hitch which delayed the signing of agreement for a couple of hours till late mid-night tonight was withdrawal of Public Safety Act (PSA) detentions and attachment of SSP Samba Prabhat Singh on which both the sides had taken divergent stand. However, the issue was resolved and the deal was clinched at 4.40 am when the Government’s panel reportedly agreed to transfer Prabhat Singh and withdraw the PSA cases imposed against two persons including Swami Dinesh Bharti during the agitation. Soon after the agreement was signed between the two sides, the Samiti leaders hugged each other and loudly chanted ‘Bum Bum Bhole’. Majority of Samiti leaders agreed that tomorrow’s ‘Sangarsh rally’ at MA stadium, on which the administration was undecided to allow it or not, could well be a ‘Victory rally’ dropping enough hints that two months long agitation has ended positively...

While majority of demands of the Sangarsh Samiti have been conceded, the core issue of restoration of 800 kanals of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has been addressed with the Government agreeing to set aside 800 kanals of land at Baltal for exclusive use of the SASB.

After the agreement, SAYSS convenor Leela Karan Sharma announced suspension of the agitation and declared that Sunday’s ‘Sangarsh rally’ has been declared as a ‘Victory rally’.

Both sides signed the agreement at Guest House, the venue of talks, which was already thronged by a large number of youths who had started dancing to the tunes of ‘dhols’ and drum beats after getting reports that the Shrine Board has got the land back, a core issue of the people of majority parts of Jammu region for which they had been observing 39 days of continuous bandh and agitating for the last 62 days. Prior to 39 days of consecutive bandh, Jammu had observed bandh for nine days from June 30 to July 8. The previous bandh was called off after the fall of Ghulam Nabi Azad led coalition Government on July 7.

After preliminary hiccups, the dialogue between four member Governor’s panel and an equal number of Samiti delegation, started around 8 pm today. The talks were scheduled for 4.30 pm but the Samiti members were busy in mobilising people for tomorrow’s rally of Jammu region at MA stadium and also held their full house meeting before going in for much delayed fourth round of talks. After three rounds of talks last Saturday, the Governor’s panel led by Dr Sudhir S Bloeria, Advisor to Governor, had told the Samiti that they would report back to them on reservations voiced by the Samiti members over previous agreement, within two-three days.

Besides Dr Bloeria, the Governor’s panel comprised Justice (Retd) G D Sharma, Jammu University Vice Chancellor Prof Amitabh Mattoo and B B Vyas, Principal Secretary to Governor. The SAYSS panel, which held talks with the Government, include Brig (Retd) Suchet Singh, Tilak Raj Sharma, Dr Narinder Singh and Pawan Kohli.

The core issue of land to the SASB has been addressed to our satisfaction, a number of jubilant Samiti leaders told the Excelsior.

The talks were stalled last Saturday when the Government had offered 800 kanals of land at Baltal to the SASB for ‘use’ for a period of three months. However, the Samiti wanted categoric allotment of land to the Board, a demand which has been conceded by the Government despite objections raised by former Chief Minister and PDP patron Mufti Mohd Sayeed in a meeting with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh yesterday.

After nearly three hour long talks tonight, the four member Samiti panel reported to ‘Full House’ of the Samiti and all of them expressed satisfaction at the agreement and reached the Guest House where both sides signed it and held a joint press conference in wee hours of Sunday morning.

Sources said setting aside 800 kanals of land for exclusive use of SASB has clearly addressed the Samiti’s demand on the core issue.

All powers of the Shrine Board will remain unchanged as per the proposed agreement. The Board, whose members had resigned during the agitation to facilitate its re-constitution, will continue to be headed by the Governor, who will have free powers to choose the members. All powers of the Board as they existed before Amarnath land row controversy erupted will remain unchanged, sources said.

They added that there will be no change in autonomous status of the Board.

Regarding withdrawal of cases registered by police against the protesters during the agitation, sources said, the Government has agreed to withdraw bailable offences as well as the PSA detention. For few cases including criminal it proposed to set up Nodal Officers. The Government has agreed to set up Nodal Officers as per the choice of the Samiti.

Sources said the Government was initially hesitant on withdrawal of PSA cases as they would have to do the same in Kashmir Valley where half a dozen separatists have also been detained under the same Act. Besides fire brand Saint Swami Dinesh Bharti, a Hiranagar youth Dalip Kumar have been ordered to be detained under PSA. While Dinesh Kumar, a youth of Mertha, Hiranagar, has already been lodged in Kot Bhalwal jail merely for pelting stones on trucks, Swami Dinesh Bharti has gone underground. However, after more than two hour long negotiations, the Government agreed to withdraw the PSA detentions.

Another major hitch pertained to Samiti’s demand for suspension of SSP Samba Prabhat Singh. Later, the Samiti leaders came down to his attachment saying this was the crucial demand of the people of Samba. The Government proposed that Prabhat Singh would be transferred after sometime, a demand to which the Samiti agreed.

A judicial inquiry has already been ordered on police role and desecration of the dead body of Kuldeep Dogra on July 23 night. Dogra had ended his life in support of the movement on July 23 afternoon at Samiti’s dharna venue at Parade Chowk fuelling the agitation and since then Jammu has been observing a complete bandh.

Regarding demand for action against police officers for excesses on the protesters, sources said, the Government has proposed a panel to examine other cases of excesses.

Insiders in the Samiti said their tomorrow’s rally at MA stadium, which was earlier named as Sangarsh Rally, will now be converted into a ‘Victory Rally’.

The Government has also worked out modalities for compensation to traders and transporters etc, who have suffered heavy losses during over two months long agitation. The Government was also ready for compensation to dead and injured in firing and violence during the agitation, sources said.

Samiti leaders confirmed that majority of their demands including core issue of return of land to the SASB have been addressed much to their satisfaction.

Meanwhile, the administration had initially decided to impose curfew to thwart Samiti’s ‘Sangarh Rally’ at MA Stadium which was expected to draw more than 5 lakh people from all parts of Jammu region. Still, the authorities have directed all districts not to allow any bus carrying rallyists to move towards Jammu. However, after the agreement, the authorities didn’t impose curfew but maintained their direction to the districts to stop movement of buses towards Jammu. Even some roads leading to the City in Jammu district have also been fenced.

“We will take a decision tomorrow morning on whether to allow the Samiti to hold the rally or not. In view of changed circumstances (the agreement between the two sides), we might allow the rally but with few people”, sources said.

A number of Sadhus and Saints including a Shankaracharya and Sadhvi Ritambara are proposed to address the rally.

Adding to problems of the administration was a report that two militants have been spotted in a house at Sang Talab near Nardani Nullah in Raipur area, close to the site of Wednesday’s encounter at Chinore in which 11 persons including all three fidayeens were killed.

SSP Jammu Manohar Singh said two militants in police uniform were spotted in a civilian’s house at Sang Talab late tonight. Army, CRPF and police have been sent to the spot in large strength and entire areas has been cordoned off. However, there were no reports of firing from either side till late in the mid-night tonight.

Sixty two days long agitation and 39 days consecutive bandh in Jammu for restoration of land to the SASB is being described by many a veterans, who were witness to several agitations here including 1952-53 Praja Parishad agitation, as historical with mass participation of the people in most parts of the region.

Praja Parishad agitation against withdrawal of permit system, abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution granting special status to the State and ‘Ek Vidhan, Ek Pardhan Ek Nishaan’ from October 28, 1952 to June 24, 1953. Sixteen persons were killed and scores others were injured while a large number of agitationists including Pt Shyama Prasad Mukherjee were arrested. Mukherjee had died under mysterious circumstances on the intervening night of June 22 and 23 in a temporary jail at Nishat Bagh. The agitation had ended on June 24, 1953 following a call from the then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru. The agitation was a success as permit system and ‘Sadar-e-Riyasat’ were abolished while Article 370 continued.

Another important agitation in Jammu was launched in November 1987 when the then Farooq Abdullah Government had decided to keep the Civil Secretariat permanently in Srinagar. After over a fortnight long agitation, the then Union Home Minister and Congress leader Buta Singh had rushed to Jammu and his intervention had resolved the agitation leading to maintenance of status quo i.e. shifting of Durbar offices to half a year in Jammu and another half year in Srinagar. However, bandh in Jammu then was mostly confined to City and peripheries.

In 1968, people in Jammu had launched an agitation against discrimination with Jammu region after which the Government had set up Gajender Gadkar Commission.

Four persons were killed in Roti agitation in Jammu in 1937 when ration system was introduced to overcome food shortage.

However, the veterans even maintained that they have not seen such an agitation in Jammu like the present one.

Earlier during the day, rallies and mobilisation for tomorrow’s ‘Maha Rally’ at MA Stadium, being organised by Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (SAYSS), continued across the region on 39th day of consecutive bandh in Jammu as the agitation, spearheaded by the Samiti, today entered into 62nd day.

Meanwhile, life remained completely paralysed in majority of areas across Jammu region, which observed a complete bandh for 39th day today. Traffic also remained off the roads on highways, cities and towns.

Anger of the youths in Purani Mandi and surrounding localities of Old City didn’t cool down as they continued to subject police to stone pelting despite fresh deployment of Rapid Action Force (RAF) at Parade Chowk and other vulnerable areas.

Reports said the RAF was deployed at Parade Chowk following regular stone pelting at the cops in Purani Mandi, Moti Bazaar, Link Road and adjoining localities. However, the youths, who were protesting against arrests of their colleagues, continued stone pelting on the cops, who retaliated by firing tear smoke shells. No major injuries were reported on either side during teargassing.

Stray incidents of stone pelting were also reported from Nai Basti.

In Digiana also, police had to use lathicharge and teargas to disperse the protesters. A scooterist and his two children were injured in the blockade.

Leaders and activists of SAYSS and their Mohalla and Village wise units today held a massive mobilisation campaign in most parts of Jammu region to garner public support for Samiti’s ‘Maha Rally’ at MA Stadium at 11 am tomorrow. At several places, people took out rallies and held door-to-door campaign advising the people to attend the ‘Maha Rally’ in large number and make it a grand success.

In Udhampur, youths intruded into a Government office of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) at Dhar Road, which was found open in the morning. They damaged furniture of the office and four vehicles parked in its premises. Wind screens of all four vehicles bearing Nos. 4322 JK14, 2364 JK02A, 1845 JK14 and 4134 JK02AC were smashed by the protesters. The office was forcibly closed down. It may be mentioned here that majority of Government offices were closed down in bandh affected areas as they were being targeted by the protesters.

Youths took out a rally on two wheelers in Udhampur town this morning and tried to march from Dhar Road to TCP Udhampur on Jammu-Srinagar national highway. However, they were prevented by the police and not allowed to move towards the highway. A huge rally was taken out with people from almost all localities of Udhampur town and outskirts, majority of them women, children and girls, which dispersed peacefully after more than two hour long protest.

A complete bandh was observed in Udhampur, Chenani, Ramnagar, Majalata, Manwal, Jib, Thathi, Garhi, Rhembal and other towns and rural areas of Udhampur district for 39th day today.

Women took out a massive rally in Mareen area of Chadwal in Kathua district denouncing police for the detention of a local youth, Dalip Kumar of Mertha under Public Safety Act (PSA) and teargas shells fired by police inside an ‘ashram’ few days back. The women urged Human Rights Commissions to take note of the detention of PSA of an innocent youth. A separate anti-police and pro-agitation rally was taken out by the people in Hiranagar town. In Budhi, the native village of Dalip Kumar, people held a demonstration against his PSA detention and shouted slogans against police.

In Kathua town also, a large number of women continued to lead the rally from the front. People from all localities of Kathua town joined the rally which was taken out this evening. After passing through different bazaars, the rally culminated at Main Chowk. People chanted religious and anti-Government slogans in the rally.

Reports of rallies and a total shutdown for 39th straight day were also received from other towns of Kathua district including Lakhanpur, Barnoti, Bani, Basohli, Billawar, Mahanpur, Ramkot and Nagrota. Bandh was also complete in Kathua and Hiranagar towns. All shops along Jammu-Pathankot highway were also closed.

In Samba town, people again came out of their houses this morning and gathered at Chowhatta Chowk. Joined by a number of women and children, the people marched towards Main Chowk in Samba town chanting ‘Bum Bum Bhole’ and ‘Omar-Mehbooba Hai Hai’. They burnt an effigy of the Government before dispersing.

In Vijaypur town of Samba district, the people marched from Railway Chowk and after passing through Vijaypur town ended the rally at Canal Road where the women held a ‘kirtan’ in praise of Lord Shiva and Durga Mata. The fast-unto-death by Panthers Party leader Ram Prasad Klandri today entered into second day. Two NPP leaders had earlier been lifted by police while observing the fast-unto-death.

All major towns and rural areas of Samba district including Samba, Ghagwal, Vijaypur, Bari Brahamana, Ramgarh, Soankha, Sarore and Tarore observed a complete bandh for 39th day today.

In Reasi town, the people took their regular rally from Chowk Chabutra to Bus Stand where they burnt J&K Bank calendars describing them as ‘biased towards Kashmir’. Women outnumbered men in the rally, which is being taken by the people daily raising slogans like ‘Bum Bum Bhole’ and ‘Mehbooba Mufti Hai Hai’. Shops and business establishments in entire Reasi town and surrounding areas like Jyotipuram and Talwara observed a complete bandh for 39th consecutive day today.

Katra town, the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, also observed a complete bandh for 29th day with all shops and business establishments remaining closed.

In Rajouri town, youths took out a scooter rally which started from the town and passed through Narian and Dungi areas before culminating. Carrying tricolor and saffron flags, the youths chanted ‘Bum Bum Bhole’ and ‘Omar-Mehbooba Hai Hai’ all along the route.

Shops of minority community remained closed in Rajouri. Sunderbani town of Rajouri district also observed a complete bandh.

In Arnia town of Jammu district, people took out a rally which ended at Treva Chowk, the relay hunger strike venue of six youths, which today entered into second day. In Bishnah town, the protesters marched from Bishnah Mata Mandir to Main Chowk. The protest was also joined by former MLA Bishnah, Ashwani Sharma. Rallies were also taken out by the people in different areas of RS Pura tehsil.

People of Muthi, Domana, Patoli Brahamana, Purkhoo and Barnai areas held a demonstration at Muthi Chowk and blocked Jammu-Akhnoor road for an hour while raising religious, anti-Governor and anti-Kashmir leaders’ slogans. The people dispersed peacefully.

A massive rally was also taken out by the people in Khour town of Akhnoor tehsil which was joined by the villagers of Mirpur, Pallanwalla and other areas. Akhnoor, Jourian, Khour, Pallanwalla and other areas in Akhnoor tehsil observed a complete bandh.

At Rehari Chungi area of the City, people held a demonstration and burnt the effigy of the Government. However, people in City and other areas of Jammu district today remained busy in mobilising support for tomorrow’s rally and collecting food packets for the people who would join the rally from outside Jammu. The SAYSS has set up a target of collecting 5 lakh food packets for the people attending tomorrow’s rally at MA Stadium from outside Jammu City. The people were seen visiting door-to-door for collecting food packets.

Free langars were organised in different localities by the people for poor sections of the society.

Meanwhile, Jammu City continued to wear a deserted look excepting Parade Chowk where exchange of stone pelting and teargassing between protesters and police took place. All shops and business establishments remained closed in the City, its outskirts and peripheries for 39th consecutive day today. All kind of traffic was also off the roads.

Other parts of entire Jammu district also observed a complete bandh. As reported, entire industrial and other business activity has come to a standstill in the entire district in view of the bandh, which was being observed by the people voluntarily with not even a single shop being seen opened in any part of the City and other areas of the district. All hotels and restaurants were also closed in the City. Business markets like Ware House and Kanak Mandi and tourist markets including Hari Market and Ragunath Bazaar were also closed.

All kind of commercial traffic remained off the Jammu-Pathankot and Jammu-Srinagar national highways and Jammu-Poonch road for 39th consecutive day today. All inter-State and local buses, matadors, three wheelers and taxis didn’t turn up on the roads even as there were no youths on the roads to enforce closure of traffic. Only trucks were plying on the highways under Army escort.

Tags: Amarnath Agitation, Amarnath Land Solution, Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti, amarnath yatra, Chronology of agitation, Jammu Agitation, mass movement, SAYSS

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