Author: UNI
Publication: Newkerala.com
Date: July 6, 2008
URL: http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=81901
Even as the controversy over the allotment
of land to Amarnath Shrine Board by the Jammu and Kashmir Government refuses
to die, the pilgrims to the famous shrine have returned with tales of terror
with the Jammu and Kashmir Police being a mute spectator.
A mob attack the pilgrims at Baltal on July
one and their vehicles damaged, while the Jammu and Kashmir Police stood as
a mute spectator to this terror, pilgrims Ravikant Dogra, Sanjay Sharma and
Suresh Rana said at a press conference here.
''We had dharshan of the icelingum in the
holy cave on June 29 and returned to Baltal on June 30 morning but were not
allowed to proceed to Srinagar by the Jammu and Kashmir police,'' they alleged.
The following day a huge mob beat up pilgrims
and damaged at least 25 vehicles and forced pilgrims to raise ''Pakistan Zindabad''
slogans, while the state police personnel did nothing, they alleged.
They said at one point of time they wanted
to leave the vehicles there and rush home, but it was a state of helplessness
and they had no option but to face the mob wrath.
Besides, they alleged, the pilgrims were charged
Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per person for getting shelter in a tent near the cave
on June 29.
A bottle of water was sold to them at Rs 46
and 250 ml milk bottle at Rs.40 with no official of the state government present
to redress their grievances, they added.
Meanwhile, VHP spokesman Ravi Shankar spokesperson
has demanded the sacking of Ghulam Nabi Azad Government should sacked, saying
that the security of the entire journey to the cave should be handed over
to the Army and para military forces.
Following the tales of terror narrated by
the pilgrims the Jammu and Kashmir Police should be removed from both Phalgam
and Baltal tracks, he added.
The VHP leader also criticized the Azad Government
for succumbing under militant pressure and reverting its earlier decision
on the allotment of land to the Amrnath shrine board.
