Jammu:
Five hundred protesters, who blocked a road here demanding security forces to vacate Tara Dharamshala and reopen all the gates of Raghunath Temple complex.
Led by JKNPP president and MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia, over 500 activists from Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, Kranti Dal, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena and other saffron outfits assembled today at Hari Market, in front of the temple, and protested against the government demanding reopening of the gates.
Protesters blocked the road and forcibly tried to open the gates after which police resorted to baton charge for a short period to disperse the mob.
The gates of the historic Ragunath Temple were closed following two suicide attacks by militants in March 2000 and November 2000. CRPF personnel were deployed for the security and only one gate was kept open for pilgrims.
"We had demanded reopening of the all the gates of the Ragunath temple complex and vacation of security forces from Tara Daramshala, which is meant for pilgrims," Mankotia told reporters here today.
JKNPP had submitted a memorandum to Divisional Commissioner on October 25 in this connection.