Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 13: Fifty one activists of Bajrang Dal (BD) who were on their way to Baltal the base camp of holy Amaranth shrine to inspect the tracks were arrested by Jhajar Kotli Police this afternoon.
They were shifted to District Police Lines Gandhi Nagar here. They were later released on bail by the Executive Magistrate. The Jhajar Kotli Police has registered a case under section 107 and 151 CRPC. The BD activists were led by Nand Kishore Misra Regional convener BD. The BD activists left Jammu for Baltal base camp in Kashmir Valley in two buses and three Light Motor Vehicles to have the inspection of both the tracks leading to holy cave from Baltal and Chandanwari base camps.
To move ahead the BD activists also jostled with police for a while and protested against the Government action. They raised slogans against the Government and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) authorities. They reiterated their commitment to start the yatra on the auspicious day of Jesht Purnima falling on June 4.
The BD accused the Government and Board of creating unnecessary hurdles in the way of yatra every time saying that Board has no locus standi in interfering the date and time of yatra the decision on which can only be taken by Hindu religious bodies.
The other BD leaders who were arrested included Vikas Parihar co-convener State, Rakesh Sahrma, Divisional Convener and Vicky Choudhary, Akhara Parmukh.
Earlier the BD activists took out a rally from VHP Headquarters Shakti Ashram Rehari to Ranvireshwar temple via Parade. Raising slogans “Bum Bum Boley’’ the Bajrangis warned the Government not to interfere in the yatra date and time.
At Ranvireshwar temple after Jalabhishekh they performed Pooja –Archana before proceeding towards Baltal.
An official handout issued here later said that the Government prevented the activists of BD for proceeding towards Baltal in order to avoid any untoward incident due to inclement weather conditions in Kashmir Valley. It said the decision was taken in a high level meeting convened here last night.
The handout said that the administration is actively working on ensuring a safe and clear route to the holy cave well before the commencement of this world famous yatra. In this regard the administration has convened series of meetings with the concerned authorities to work out an effective mechanism to ensure smooth and successful yatra for the devotees who throng the State from different parts of the Country, the handout added.
It said the Government is completely abreast with the feasibility and technicalities of this historic yatra and a series of high-level meetings have also been convened recently in Srinagar and at Jammu for the smooth conduct of the yatra.
Meanwhile the activists of Bajrang Dal and Vishaw Hindu Parishad (VHP) held a protest demonstration and took out a march in Akhnoor town today. Led by Parbhat Singh a local leader the protestors assembled near Bus Stand Akhnoor and held demonstration for one hour. Wearing saffron ribbons on their heads they shouted slogans against the State Government and SASB authorities.
They also protested against the arrest of BD and VHP activists by police at Jhajar Kotli who were on their way to Baltal to inspect the track and demanded their immediate release.
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