Series of Events of Amarnath Land Agitation

June 17: Two month long annual Amarnath pilgrimage begins, a day ahead of schedule due to heavy influx of yatris.

June 22: Protests start in Ganderbal and spread to most parts of the Valley in protest against allotment of 800 kanals Forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

June 25: Counter protests begin in Jammu against PDP and separatists.

June 26: PDP threatens to quit Govt, Omar Abdullah asked SASB to return Baltal land on their own.

June 28: PDP withdraws support to Azad-led coalition Government, 9 party Ministers hand over resignations to CM.

June 29: PDP Ministers’ resignations accepted. Governor N N Vohra abandons Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) claim on land. Protests end in Valley.

June 30: Protests, bandh began in Jammu against cancellation of allotment of land to SASB. Bandh was extended for 72 hours thrice.

July 1: Curfew imposed in Jammu after violence, police opened firing on protesters.

July 7: Azad resigned as CM without facing confidence vote.

July 8: Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (SAYSS), constituted to spearhead strike for restoration of land to SASB, suspended bandh for a week in the aftermath of Azad Govt’s fall but decided to go ahead with other agitational programmes.

July 16: Jammu again observed bandh for a day.

July 23: A Bishnah youth Kuldeep Dogra ended his life by consuming poison at dharna venue of Sangarsh Samiti at Parade Chowk, triggering fresh protests and since then began an indefinite bandh in Jammu region which continued till date, though the Samiti extended it after every 72 hours or 96 hours.

July 24: Massive anti-administration protests rocked Jammu as an attempt was made by police to cremate the body of Dogra before sunrise in Bishnah allegedly using liquor and tyres. SP Headquarters and DySP Bakshi Nagar were attached for the desecration of body while a judicial probe was ordered by the Government. Jammu district got three SSPs coming and going during the bandh including Alok Kumar, SD Singh and Manohar Singh while SSP Samba Vijay Kumar was replaced by Prabhat Singh, Additional SP Kathua Benam Tosh was replaced by Rajeshwar Singh and Anil Magotra was posted as SP City Udhampur.

July 27: BJP, Samiti, Bar Association top brass courted arrest on not being allowed to hold a rally at Parade. Bandh continued.

July 29: Another civilian tried to end life by consuming poison at Samba in support of the agitation.

August 1: Army called out in Jammu and Samba districts and curfew imposed after firing left two dead in firing at Samba; many offices burnt and damaged.

August 2: Curfew imposed in Udhampur too, Army deployed on highways for safe movement of truckers as people continued to block highway to stop trucks plying to and fro Srinagar.

August 3: Rajouri, Bhaderwah too brought under curfew after communal violence.

August 4: Two killed, 18 injured in police firing at Samba town.

August 5: Mob damaged rail track between Ghagwal and Kathua, burnt offices and police post in Jourian, several police personnel and protesters injured.

August 6: Army firing at Palli, Kathua, one protester killed. PM chairs all party meeting in New Delhi on Amarnath row.

August 8: All party delegation reached Jammu. Samiti leaders met them only after Farooq Abdullah, Saif-ud-Din Soz and Mehbooba Mufti were dropped from the delegation in Jammu.

August 9: Two killed, 80 injured, property burnt in communal violence in Kishtwar.

August 14: A retired doctor in Hiranagar ended his life on 23rd day of successive bandh.

August 18-20: Three day ‘jail bharo andolan’ of the Samiti drew massive response with lakhs of people including women and children offering court arrests. On last day of ‘jail bharo’, violence broke out at Janipura, Rehari, Akhnoor and Gandhi Nagar.

August 21: Mob gheroed veteran Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma at Bhagwati Nagar, Canal Road but he was rescued by the police. His private vehicles and three cars parked near Canal police post were torched by the protesters.

August 22: Curfew was clamped and Army called out in Hiranagar town as mob protesting against arrest of youths torched a truck and fought pitched battles with the cops.

August 23: Communal violence in Poonch; curfew imposed, Army called out. A youth Dalip Kumar’s detention under PSA in Kathua for pelting stones on trucks sparked off protests in Hiranagar. Three rounds of talks were held between Governor’s panel and SAYSS but the dialogue remained inconclusive as Government side sought 2-3 days time on Samiti’s reservations.

August 24: Samiti extends Jammu bandh upto August 31. Another youth attempts suicide in Bishnah in support of agitation. Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma says Governor NN Vohra’s recall is not their demand.

August 25: Violence again erupts in Jammu and Kathua districts on complete ‘chakka bandh’ call and ‘self-imposed curfew’ in Jammu region. District administration ordered detention of Swami Dinesh Bharti, who had been spearheading the movement in every nook and corner of Jammu, under Public Safety Act. The Swami, however, remained underground.

August 27: Sangarsh Samiti cancels rally at Parade Ground as militants struck at Chinore. Eleven persons including all three fidayeens were killed at Chinore.

August 28: Agitation in Jammu completes two months as bandh entered 37th consecutive day. Talks between SAYSS and Government’s panel were deferred. Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma supports Sangarsh Samiti.

August 29: Sangarsh Samiti expressed doubts over seriousness of the Government as official delegation again didn’t turn up for the talks.

August 30: Government panel and Sangarsh Samiti met for fourth round and inked an agreement.

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