BY YUSUF JAMEEL Srinagar,July 16: A shutdown was observed in Jammu and some other towns in the region on Wednesday as part of a renewed agitation seeking restoration of about 40 hectares of forestland in Singh range near here to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB). During the strike, slogan-chanting crowds held protest demonstrations along the streets of the winter capital and elsewhere. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir governor Narendra Nath Vohra, who is also the chairman of the SASB, has said that the controversial forestland was never handed over to the board as such and, therefore, the question of returning it to the forest department or reclaiming it from it does not arise. He has also sought to assure the Hindus of Jammu and elsewhere that the SASB, contrary to the belief among certain quarters, would continue to play its statutory role with "zeal and dedication". He said in a message on Tuesday that there was no dilution in its "authority or role". However, the Shri Amarnathiji Sangharsh Samiti (SASS), a recently formed amalgam of more than two dozen Jammu-based political, social and religious parties and groups, which is spearheading the agitation, has turned down his appeal for discussion on the issue. The samiti, which is also demanding Mr Vohra's removal as governor, asserts that it could come across the negotiation table only if the forestland is restored to the SASB. The samiti had last week suspended agitation but resumed it on Wednesday, saying there has been no forward movement in response to its demands. Most shops and other businesses and educational institutions in Jammu and the towns of Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Reasi and Ranbir Singh Pora were closed and transport services were off the roads on Wednesday. Also, angry protesters were back on the streets of Jammu but there was no violence. However, buses coming from neighbouring Punjab and Himachal Pradesh were forced to return as crowds blocked the roads by placing burning used car tyres, witnesses said. Meanwhile, the BJP has asked the Jammu-based leaders of various mainstream political parties, including the Congress and National Conference, to join the ongoing agitation, described by it as "movement of Jammu people" over the land issue. Addressing a press conference in the winter capital, BJP state president Ashok Khajuria sought to caution these leaders that it they do not join the agitation they would have to face public wrath and anger. He asserted, "It is a matter of shame that the Jammu-based Congress leaders, like the Kashmir-based separatists, are defending the Cabinet decision of July 1 rescinding the land transfer order to show solidarity with Kashmiri fundamentalists." He said if the forestland was not restored to the SASB soon the ongoing agitation would only be intensified and that "jathas" (batches) of over 10,000 "nationalist people" from across the country would reach Jammu in coming months.