Amarnath protestor commits suicide in Jammu

Jammu, Aug 14 (UNI) A protestor agitating for the restoration of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) today allegedly committed suicide in tehsil Hiranagar of Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir, official sources here said.

''The agitator accompanying the protest rally staged dharna along with several protestors in Hiranagar on Jammu-Kathua National Highway,'' the sources told UNI.

''Protestor identified as Dr Balwant Khajuria, 70, allegedly consumed some poisonous substance at the site of dharna,'' the sources said, asserting, ''He was immediately rushed to the Government Medical College Hospital but doctors declared him brought dead.'' ''The protestor, however, in a suicide note recovered from his possession had made a wish that his property be donated to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, while he also contributed Rs 1000 to Samiti's funds yesterday,'' a senior police official told UNI.

Earlier, a Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) protestor Kuldeep Verma had allegedly committed suicide on July 23 in Jammu, which lead to an intensification of the agitation.

Eight people have lost their lives so far in the ongoing agitation in Jammu region, with maximum four in alleged police firing at Samba.

The Sangharsh Samiti, a conglomerate of 35 political, religious and social organisations, is demanding restoration of forest land to the Shrine Board at Baltal and removal of newly-appointed Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra.

Meanwhile, life came to a standstill as Jammu observed complete shut down for the 23rd consecutive day in support of the agitation.

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