Talks end, violence begins in Jammu

Jammu: Talks began in Jammu early on Saturday between the organisation leading an agitation for the past two months on the Amarnath land row and a Government panel to find a solution to the contentious issue.

The Shri Amarnath Sangarash Samiti, which is being represented by a four-member panel, insists that the 40 hectares of land allotted to the Shrine Board for pilgrims be restored.

"Nothing short of it," panel member Suchet Singh told reporters before the talks started.

The members of the special panel named by Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra for the talks refused to answer any queries posed by media personnel.

The four-member panel comprises the Governor's Advisor (Home) Sudhir Singh Bloeria, retired high court judge G D Sharma, Jammu University Vice-Chancellor Amitabh Mattoo and Amarnath Shrine Board CEO B B Vyas, who is also the Governor's Principal Secretary.

The other three representatives of the Samiti are Tilak Raj Sharma, Narinder Singh and Pawan Kohli.

They are said to have a five-point agenda for discussion:

• The use of the 40-hectare plot at Baltal and other facilities for pilgrims;
• Reconstitution of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB);
• Arrangements for the pilgrimage by the Shrine Board;
• No dilution in its powers;
• Assessment of the land required for the pilgrimage period

Both groups have agreed to continue talks and are likely to meet on Saturday again. The Government panel has discussed the Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti proposals with the core committee and are hopeful of a solution.

As soon as the talks ended, tension began in the Poonch district. Shops and vehicles were torched and police fired teargas shells to defuse the tense situation.

Curfew in Jammu was relaxed for 24-hours from 0500 hrs IST in the morning on Saturday after there was a let up in the violent protests on Friday.

Meanwhile, there is a shutdown in Kashmir Valley once again on Staurday. The separatists have revived their call for a three-day strike.

The state government had May 26 transferred a 40-hectare plot of land to the SASB but withdrew this following protests in the Kashmir Valley.

The revocation of this order on July 1 ignited an agitation in the Jammu region.