Excelsior Correspondent
—Excelsior/Rakesh
JAMMU, July 17: Irate Kashmiri Pandits today protested and blocked the traffic on Jammu Bantalab road at Muthi Naka this afternoon against the failure of district administration Anantnag in maintaining the law and order situation at holy shrine of Mattan in Anantnag district and preventing the untoward incidents of July 13 at the shrine.
The protestors wearing black badges and raising anti district administration slogans took out a procession from Muthi Camp to Buta Nagar Naka where they staged a demonstration on road disrupting the movement of vehicular traffic for about two hours.
The protestors including men, women and children demanded action against the DC and SSP Anantnag, Tehsildar and SHO Mattan as well as the CRPF Commandant who were responsible for the untoward happenings at the holy shrine.
The protestors have sought immediate intervention of Mahant of holy Mace of Swami Amarnath Ji saying the historic Mattan Shrine is linked to Charri yatra from times immemorial. They said the Shrine has no less importance than Haridwar as per Hindu scriptures and unnecessary the State Government and administration was trying to create a confusion among the communities.
They said that the Prohits of Mattan and members of Pandit community are on protest at Mattan for last five days and the district administration and State Government has been a mute spectator to it.
Terming the July 13 episode of Mattan a conspiracy the protestors said that State Government under a gameplan was trying to thwart the return formula of Pandits to Valley. They reiterated the demand that army guard be permanently kept at holy shrine as the community has totally lost faith on State administration and police.
The protestors said that a delegation of the community will soon leave for Union Capital and stage a protest in front of Parliament demanding restoration of shrines to community. They will also meet the Union Home Minster, Raj Nath Singh and other top BJP leaders as well as Chief Minister, Omar Abdllah in Srinagar in this regard and seek action against the erring administration.
Those who addressed the protest included president All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC), R K Raina, Swami Kumar Ji of Geeta Satsang Ashram, former president, Prohit Sabha Mattan, Ashok Sidha, J K Jigyasoo, vice president ASKPC, Ashok Dhar of PDP, NC Minority Cell leaders and representatives of various camp and non camp organizations.
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