The 61-day old agitation in Jammu region on the Amarnath land row ended on Saturday following the signing of an agreement between the group leading the agitation and the Jammu and Kashmir Governor- appointed panel, under which the shrine board would be making temporary use of 40-hectares of land during the yatra period.

The agreement was arrived after a six-hour-long fourth round of talks between the Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti(SASS) and the four-member panel of the state government, under which the protesting group decided to suspend their agitation as the Government has agreed for temporary use of the land by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

“We have suspended the agitation for the time being and not called it off, as some of our demands are yet to be met," Samiti's convenor Leela Karan Sharma said after the meeting.

The government has agreed to set aside 800 kanals of land at Baltal and Domail without any payment. However, the ownership of the forest land shall not undergo any change.

The agreement was signed by S S Bleoria on behalf of the government and Sharma on behalf of the Samiti. The Shrine Board will continue discharge its responsibilities as per the act and it shall supervise all arrangements of yatra with the support of the state Government, according to the agreement.

The Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra had appointed a four-member panel headed by his advisor and former Chief Secretary S S Bloeria and comprised of Justice (Retd) G D Sharma, Vice Chancellor of University of Jammu Amitabh Mattoo and Principal Secretary to Governor and Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board B B Vyas.

The panel held three rounds of talks with a committee set up by Sangarsh Samiti comprising of Tilak Raj Sharma, Brig (retd) Suchet Singh, Narinder Singh and Pawan Kohli.

"The Shri Amarnathji Yatra, which has been going on for many centuries, is a shining symbol of communal harmony and brotherhood in Jammu and Kashmir and reflective of the State's composite heritage. The Yatris have been welcomed with open arms by the people of both Jammu and Kashmir divisions and all required facilities have been made available for them,” a joint statement read out after the signing of agreement said.

“Sadly, certain decisions of the state government relating to the Yatra created misunderstandings which led to controversy and agitation and loss of many precious lives. Apart from the damage to property, there has been a colossal loss to the State's economy in different sectors like trade, transport, industry, horticulture and tourism,” the statement added.

The agreement

According to the agreement, “The State Government shall set aside for the use by Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, exclusively, the land in Baltal and Domail comprising an area of 800 kanals, traditionally under use for the annual Yatra purposes. The proprietary status or ownership or title of the land shall not undergo any change.”

The Board shall 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 user 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); facilities for Ponywallahs and Pithuwallahs."

“Provisions of medical facilities, setting up of free 'langars' by private persons and groups which are licensed by the Board, facilities for helicopter operations or parking of vehicles,” the agreement said.

“Arrangements of security by local police and para-military forces and other security agencies as per the arrangements in place here-to-fore and undertaking measures relating to soil conservation, land protection and preservation of ecology," it said.

The two sides also agreed that the Board shall continue to remain responsible for the overall arrangements of the Yatra on both the routes during the Yatra period, including all arrangements as mandated under the provisions of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Act, 2000.

The government also agreed to examine the 14-point charter of demands of the Samiti, which include withdrawal of criminal cases against various persons during the period of agitation, provisions of compensation to the families of the deceased and to the injured, on "time-bound" basis.

Also on working out of the appropriate packages of financial assistance to compensate losses of the transport sector, trade and industry, horticulture sector, hoteliers and tourist operators.

"As regards the registration of criminal cases against various persons during the period of agitation, it is agreed that all cases of non-serious nature which shall mean bailable and compoundable will be  withdrawn,” the agreement added.

“The remaining cases will be reviewed, on the merits of each case, by a Committee headed by Anil Goswami, Principal Secretary (Home) within 60 days. Till the completion of this process, no action will be taken in such cases. Also, specific allegations of atrocities on agitators, based on prima-facie evidence, could also be looked into by this Committee," it said.

An ex-gratia relief will be extended to the next of the kin of the deceased and those permanently disabled and the injured, it said.

"Further, a Working Group, under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary will address all compensation issues relating to both Jammu and Kashmir Divisions and the Central Government will be approached for extending enabling financial support to the State Government for this purpose within a period of two months,” the agreement read said.

"To make the exercise meaningful, one representative from each of the affected sectors will be associated with the deliberations of the Working Group," it said.

"The SASB will be reconstituted keeping in view the provisions of the Act and the past precedents," it said and added that the state law department will examine the issue of disposal of Letter Patent Agreement (LPA) in terms of the understanding made within one month," the agreement added.

Earlier, the Governor had held discussions with the leaders of political, social, religious, academic and other organisations in the Kashmir Valley to bring peace.

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