Katra shutdown against ropeway project extended

6 protesters on hunger strike, Vaishno Devi pilgrims face tough time

- FAYAZ WANI @ Srinagar

THE Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti on Friday extended the shutdown in Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the shrine, by 72 hours, adding to the woes of the devotees. Katra observed a complete shutdown for the third consecutive day on Friday in protest against the proposed ropeway project in the Trikuta hills of Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district.

Six youths of Katra town have gone on hunger strike in support of the VDSS' demands -- shelving the ropeway project and releasing detained protesters. "VDSS leaders met on the conclusion of a three-day shutdown against the shrine board's ropeway project. It was decided to extend the shutdown by 72 hours," former legislator and VDSS member Jugal Sharma told this newspaper.