Saffron activists court arrest over Amarnath issue

Chandigarh, Aug 21: Hundreds of workers of BJP, Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and some religious organisations demanding transfer of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board on Thuesday, Aug 21 held a demonstration and courted arrest in various parts of Punjab.

In Barnala, around 250 workers of different organisations held demonstration in front of Deputy Commissioner's office and reportedly smashed thewindow panes of DC's office and damaged the jeep of SHO.

The police arrested over 111 agitated workers and after registering a case for damaging the property released all the workers.

In Kapurthala, about two hundred workers of various Hindu organisations held demonstration and courted arrest.

Blaming the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir Government for deteriorating the situation in Kashmir, the agitated workers staged a dharna at court chowk here and demanded the return of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board to facilitate the pilgrimage to the Amarnath Cave in Kashmir.

The workers later marched in procession to the office of SSP and courted arrest there. All the arrested workers were later released.

Meanwhile, in Moga in response to a call given by the BJP for Jail Bharo Andolan throughout the country in protest of Amarnath land issue, about 175 BJP activists today took out protest march and later infront of Deputy Commissioner office complex held dharna and offered their arrest.

Heavy police force deployed there immediately rounded up all the BJP activists and were taken to the Moga Saddar police station.

After an hour all the workers were released.

UNI