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Processions Clashes continued even for the sixth day on Saturday between police and demonstrators at several places in the Kashmir valley as the protests against transfer of forest land to the Amarnath shrine board intensified. Maximum restraint was observed by police and Central Reserve Police Force to avoid a bloody confrontation despite of a few violent incidents. Massive protests started after Friday prayers when people starter pouring out in the streets throughout the Valley and started blocking roads and burnt half a dozen CRPF bunkers. Protestors burnt effigies of several political leaders. All the streets were packed with people chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. They also shouted slogans against Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and his predecessor Mufti Mohammad Sayeed holding them responsible for transferring land to SASB as part of a “major conspiracy.”

Yatra Amarnath yatra was suspended on Friday for the third time as a precautionary measure for ensuring safety of pilgrims as protests over the land transfer issue were continuing in the valley for the last few days. Because of bad weather and heavy rains it was suspended on June 20 because the routes leading to the temple had become dangerous. It was again suspended on June 25 due to heavy rush at Nunwan and Baltal base camps in Kashmir.

Jammu Despite continuous appeals by Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad, to people to maintain calm and not to pay any heed to elements out to vitiate peace, protests have spread even to some parts of Jammu. People are also infuriated with the double standards of PDP chief “Mufti and his party ministers who first gave consent to the diversion of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and then provoked the people to grind their own axe thereby vitiating centuries-old communal harmony”.

Political Interests All the political parties are trying to exploit the ongoing agitations to suit their Political interests eying the coming elections. PDP and its ministers in the government had themselves approved the order of giving land to SASB and now they have changed their colors. Reason is very simple they have nothing to do with the people except robbing them of their votes and engaging them in violence.