Srinagar/Jammu, Sept 1: Kashmiri separatist leaders are reportedly holding deliberations in the wake of the State Government agreeing to allot forest land temporarily to pilgrims heading for the Amarnath shrine.

The All-Party Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference (APHC) executive meeting will continue in Srinagar today.

"With all seriousness, we have discussed the present situation of the Kashmir Valley on arrests and curfew," said senior APHC leader Abdul Gani Bhat.

The State Government has decided to allow the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board temporary use of the 40-hectares of land during the annual pilgrimage.

In response, the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti (SASS) has called off its nearly two-month-long agitation.

Jammu, Aug 31 : The Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti (SASS) signed an agreement over the shrine land issue early this morning.

The four-member panel appointed by the State Governor N. N. Vohra reached an agreement with the Samiti during their fourth round of talks, which started around 9:00 p. m. on Saturday and ended by 5:00 a. m. on Sunday. 

Jammu, Aug 30 : The ongoing land shrine row has badly hit the rice sellers in Ranbir Singh Pura district of Jammu.

A couple of months back, the farmers in the area were upbeat about their rice crop. Even the wholesale dealers were rejoicing, as the producers had already wrapped up
70 per cent of their sowing by July.

The rates of the premium quality Basmati rice had risen from Rs. 2000 per quintal last year to Rs. 6, 000. spelling an almost three-fold increase in the profits this year.

Srinagar, Aug 30: Curfew was relaxed in several parts of the Kashmir Valley on Saturday as normal life remained paralysed in response to the continuing shutdown over the Amarnath land transfer issue.

The curfew had been imposed for 14 hours in Kulgam district and for three hours in Budgam district. It was also clamped in Kulgam and Khudwani towns and eight other districts of the Valley, including Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal and Shopian.

In Srinagar, curfew was relaxed in areas falling under 28 police stations of the city for two hours from 11:00 a. m.