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Kashmiris throng streets chanting Azadi slogans: Kashmir government hands over land to Shrine

NEW DELHI, Aug 31 (APP): Thousands of Kashmiris raising slogans of “Azadi” thronged Srinagar streets this morning when the authorities relaxed curfew restrictions for a brief period and in a relatively important development Kashmir government has agreed to hand over 800 kanals land to Amarnath Shrine Board in the Kashmir valley.

Media reports from Srinagar said within minutes of relaxation of curfew at 9 p.m thousands of people came out of their homes and clashed with security forces.

In Rajouri Kadal, Nowhatta, Malaratta, Saraf Kadal, Nawab Bazar,

Zaldager, Nallah Mar, Habba Kadal and Tankipora areas, the demonstrators fought

pitched battles with security forces. They were demanding release of all Kashmiri

leaders.

After failing to disperse the demonstrators despite baton- charge and use of tear gas shells, the authorities immediately cut short the duration of curfew and re-clamped the restrictions.

The Kashmir valley is witnessing the longest curfew restrictions in its

history as it was clamped in all 10 districts of Kashmir valley when Sheikh Abdul

Aziz embraced martyrdom two weeks back.

All top Kashmiri leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Shabir Ahmed Shah, JKLF chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik and Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi were also arrested.

Official sources said curfew restrictions were also lifted briefly in Bandipora and Pulwama districts on Sunday but there was no relaxation in rest of the four districts of Shopian, Kulgam, Ganderbal and Anantnag.

Musarrat Alam, spokesman of the Coordination Committee of the Kashmiri parties has appealed to the people to hold protests peacefully.

He said India cannot silence the voice of Kashmiris who are struggling to seek right of self-determination.

Meanwhile, in a relatively important development, the occupied Kashmir government and the Hindu group Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (SAYSS) which is spearheading the agitation on Sunday signed an accord in Jammu allowing the shrine board to make temporary use of 40 hectares of land in Kashmir during the yatra period. The group has also suspended the 64- day-old agitation in Jammu region.

Reports from Jammu said the agreement was reached early hours of today after six hours of talks between the leaders of SAYSS and the four-member committee of the Kashmir state government headed by S S Bloeria, Adviser to Governor N N Vohra.

Announcing this in a press conference after signing the deal, 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.” He said “the exclusive use of the land has been given to the (shrine) board without charging any money. This has been agreed upon”.

Under the deal, the Kashmir government has agreed to set aside 800 kanals of land at Baltal and Domail in Kashmir without any payment.

Bloeria said “the proprietary status, ownership and title of the land shall not undergo any change. The board shall use the land for the duration of the Amarnath yatra including the period of making the required arrangements and winding up of the same”.

As per agreement Amarnath Board will continue to supervise all arrangements of the yatra with the support of the state Government.

The board will use the land for the duration of Yatra (including the period of making the required arrangements and winding up of the same) for the purpose of utilising it by various service providers according to its needs and priorities.

The both sides agreed that the land should be used according to the board’s requirements. This includes “raising of temporary pre-fabricated accommodation, establishment of tented accommodation by private camping agencies and setting up of the shops by shopkeepers (locals, permanent residents of the State) and facilities for Ponywallahs and Pithuwallahs.”

Reactions to this agreement from the Kashmiri leaders are awaited as all are confined to jails.

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