Amarnath land row resolved with signing of accord Wednesday, 09.03.2008, 02:54am (GMT-7)

JAMMU: The festering Amarnath land row was resolved with the state government and the group spearheading the movement entering into an agreement following which the over two-month-long agitation in Jammu was called off but reaction in the Valley was not fully receptive to the accord.

The breakthrough in the negotiations evoked mixed response with street celebrations in Jammu while Kashmir Valley witnessed sporadic violent protests against the agreement which was rejected by PDP and separatist groups but welcomed by BJP, NC and VHP.

While BJP leader L K Advani expressed satisfaction over the accord, PDP's Mehbooba Mufti rejected it saying the decision over-ruled the majority community's sensitivities.

NC leader Farooq Abdullah termed as "a very good sign" the accord the signing of which was hailed by VHP. The coordination committee of separatist groups also rejected it.

The agreement was reached in the wee hours after six hours of talks between Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) and the four-member panel of the state government headed by S S Bloeria, Adviser to Governor N N Vohra.

Curfew was clamped in Jammu city and army called out as a precautionary measure to prevent people
from participating in the 'vijay' (victory) rally called by SAYSS keeping in view of reports of presence of militants who could use the occasion to trigger violence.

Addressing a press conference with Bloeria shortly after signing the accord, Samiti's convener Leela Karan Sharma said, "We have suspended the agitation for the time being and not called it off, as some of our demands are yet to be met.

"The exclusive use of the land has been given to the (shrine) board without charging any money. " Sporadic violence took place in Kashmir Valley with mobs indulging in clashes with police resulting in the injury to at least nine persons.

Jammu city and adjoining districts returned to normal life as market places opened and traffic plied on roads, 64 days after being hit by the Amarnath land row. "Normal life has been restored in Jammu and adjoining areas of the province as all market places, government offices, schools, banks and universities reopened and traffic plied on the road as usual after an over two-month long shutdown," police said.