J&K cabinet cancels land transfer to SASB; protests continue

Srinagar/Jammu, Jul 1 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir cabinet today cancelled its earlier order by which forest land was diverted to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for construction of pre-fabricated structures for Amarnath pilgrims, while agitations over the issue in different parts of the state continued, claiming one more life and leaving 38 others, including 20 policemen, injured.

The cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, met for about three hours to discuss the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir and took the decision to revoke the transfer order.

People in the central Kashmir district of Badgam took to the streets in protest against the transfer of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

However, when the demonstrators started pelting stones, police burst teargas shells and resorted to repeated lathicharge to disperse them, leaving one person dead.

Srinagar and other major towns in the Kashmir valley observed a complete shutdown for the eighth day due to spontaneous strike in protest against the transfer of forest land to the SASB by the government.

In Jammu, a woman was among three people critically wounded when police opened fire to disperse hundreds of protestors shouting anti-government slogans in Muthi area on the city outskirts.

Led by the leaders of saffron parties, the protestors took to the streets early today amid slogans against Governor N N Vohra, Mr Azad and separatist leaders.

More UNI Team RL HT1938