Protests have been going on against opening of new track for battery cars to the Vaishno Devi shrine by the Board earlier this month.
Restrictions under section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc) have been imposed in Katra, base camp of Mata Vaishnodevi Cave shrine in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir in view of the protests by labourers and porters against opening up of the new battery car track to the pilgrimage.
"The restrictions under section 144 CrPc have been imposed in Katra town in view of the apprehensions of law and order problems arising due to the protests by labourers, poniwalas and pithus," a police officer said.
Clashes between the police and Poniwalas-Pithus took place late last night after the cops shifted five of them, observing fast unto death, to hospital as their health condition deteriorated. Poniwallahs are the people who give horses to ride for those who cannot walk to the shrine.
Five members of the Katra Sangharsh Samiti (KSS), who were sitting on fast unto death, were shifted to District Hospital Reasi in the mid-night.
"There was a minor cane charge late in the night following shifting of the five labourers sitting on fast unto death, to hospital," he said adding no one was injured in the incident. The situation is under control and there is no untoward incident reported from anywhere, the officer said.
Labourers, poniwalas and pithus have sat on fast unto death as normal life remained affected due to the protest against opening of new track for battery cars to the shrine by Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board early this month.
Extending their support to the protesting labourers, all the businessmen, traders and hoteliers of this small holy town, under the banner of KSS, observed a shutdown, which led to hardships to the visiting pilgrims.