Massive protest in Gulmarg against blast

Srinagar, Jul 21: A complete shut down was observed in the famous tourist resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir against yesterday's blast that left two people, including a tourist from Uttar Pradesh, were killed and five others were wounded.

Shops and business establishments in the entire town and nearby villages remained closed in protest against the incident.

Hundreds of villagers and those connected with the tourist trade gathered at main Gulmarg market today, raising slogans against those responsible for yesterday's blast.

They said people of the valley were in favour of peace and against such inhuman acts.

However, the tourists from outside the valley were being allowed to visit the Gulmarg and they were being provided various facilities.

But no local tourist was allowed to enter the Gulmarg, official sources said.

The demonstrators said after a bumper tourist arrival, the number of guests came down because of strike and agitation on Shri Amarnath Shrine Board land issue. However, now the arrival of tourists was again picking up but such incidents will send a wrong signal outside.

Yesterday, two people--a tourist from UP and a local eight-year-old boy--were killed and five others were injured in a grenade blast near Sumo stand.

UNI