news details |
|
|
| 10 pony operators injured in clash with CRPF personnel | | | Early Times Reporter
Srinagar | July 1
At least ten pony operators were injured in a clash with CRPF personnel at Baltal base camp of the Amarnath Yatra in Ganderbal district on Tuesday, official sources said.
Several hundred ponywallas took to streets to protest against alleged high handedness of CRPF personnel posted at Baltal base camp this morning.
The agitating ponywallas turned violent and pelted stones. The CRPF personnel had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the protestors.
The CRPF action triggered massive protests as a large number of people poured on the roads at nearby areas, including Gangangeer, Sonamarg and Kangan on Srinagar-Leh national highway and blocked the road demanding action against the CRPF personnel, the sources said.
Denying the charges against the personnel, CRPF spokesman P Tripathy said the paramilitary personnel intervened when the ponywallas turned violent and clashed with local police.
The ponywallas were angry over the helicopter service, as most of the pilgrims preferred the chopper to visit the holy cave in view of the ongoing agitation in the valley, he said, adding that the operators were demanding that the helicopter be stopped immediately.
The pilgrims also accused the ponywallas of charging higher rates then fixed by the government, Tripathy said, adding a minor scuffle also ensued between a pilgrim and a ponywalla on the issue last evening.
However, the yatra was going on smoothly as over 1,300 pilgrims left for the holy cave from Baltal this morning, the sources said. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
