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Protests The row over the transfer of forestland to the Amarnath shrine Board in Jammu and Kashmir has turned into a manor issue that has lead to the wide spread protests throwing normal life out of gear in the state. Situation has become more tense after the so called ‘peaceful’ protests against the recent state government decision of the transfer of forest land to Amarnath Shrine Board took violent turn. One person was killed and many wounded in day long clashes with the riot police on Monday in Srinagar. The police action on Monday has aggravated the already tense situation. The protests are being lead mainly by the newly reunited Hurriyat factions.

Issue Jammu and Kashmir had transferred 800 acres of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board- the body that organizes the Amarnath yatra. The opposition National Conference, the separatist group the Hurriyat as well as the coalition partner PDP has opposed the state government’s decision of transfer of land. It is supposed that the land will be used to build facilities to the Amarnath pilgrims. On the other hand the BJP workers also protested against PDP leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for his opposition of the transfer of land for Amarnath pilgrims.

People-Police Clashes Situation became more tense when police had to open fire of stone pelting youths resulting into the death of a man and many other injured. People, men, women and children took to streets and raised slogans against the police and the government holding them responsible for the death of the youth. At many places, protesters pelted stones on the policemen where clashes were witnessed between the police and protesters. These protests have widened the rift between Hindus and Muslims that will produce more harmful results in the future.

Politics For most of the political parties an issue has arisen and they are using it as to get mileage over their opponents. State assembly elections are just a few months away and every political party wants to gain as much as possible by raising this issue no matter if some people get killed .PDP has only one way to go to force it coalition partner to change its decision of transfer of land or to face the elections before the schedule.