Katra shut for fifth day against ropeway project
Jammu: Katra, the base camp for the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage in Reasi district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, remained closed for the fifth consecutive day as residents continued their protest against the ropeway project.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the strike, led by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti, has brought daily life in the town to a standstill, with shops, restaurants, and other businesses shut and vehicular traffic suspended.
The Samiti has extended the protest, initially called on December 25, demanding the shelving of the Rs 250-crore ropeway project and the release of 18 members detained during earlier demonstrations. Five protesters have been on a hunger strike, intensifying calls for the detainees’ immediate release.
Critics of the ropeway project argue that it could adversely affect local livelihoods and disrupt the traditional pilgrimage route.
