Jammu, September 20
Over 12 Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti supporters were injured when the police resorted to cane-charge and fired in the air to disperse them outside Abhinav Theatre on the Canal Road here, after they tried to forcibly entry the premises. Trouble started when the management of Abhinav Theatre cancelled the booking of the Samiti at the eleventh hour. The Samiti was scheduled to hold a function at the theatre to pay a tribute to those killed in the two-month-long land row agitation and felicitate their families. Top Samiti leaders, including convener Lila Karan Sharma, Brig Suchet Singh and Prof Narinder Singh, staged a dharna outside the theatre. The protesters raised slogans against the government and Governor N.N. Vohra.
Apprehending use of force by Samiti supporters to enter the theatre, the district administration deployed heavy police force on the spot prior to the scheduled time of the function. Companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and CRPF were also deployed. Around 2,000 people had gathered at the main gate of the theatre by 10.45 am.
The two sides clashed after Mahant Rameshwar Das tried to force entry into the theatre premises in a vehicle. The police resorted to lathicharge and also opened fire in the air to disperse the mob. Teargas shells were also lobbed at the protesters who in turn pelted stones at the police. Over 12 persons, including two saints - Narayandas and Divyanand- sustained injuries in the clash.
Later, Lila Karan Sharma told the media that Sanskar Bharati, a
constituent of the Samiti, had booked the theatre for organising the function. “However, we were denied entry into the premises for holding a peaceful event despite having permission,” he added. The Samiti was to provide a financial aid of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of those killed in the agitation during the function.
A government auditorium, Abhinav Theatre is located on the premises of the Academy of Art, Culture and Languages which looks after its affairs as well. On the other hand, when contacted, Savita Bakshi, additional secretary, Jammu office, Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, attributed the cancellation of the booking to a power snag in the theatre. She said not only Sanskar Bharati’s booking but all other bookings had been cancelled till the power line was restored.
“We are making an effort to rectify the snag and a team of engineers is on the job since the morning,” she added.
