Curfew relaxed in Jammu, continues in Kishtwar

Curfew was Tuesday relaxed in Jammu town after four days from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., though the restrictions were still on in Kishtwar, an official said.

Curfew was also relaxed in Kathua, Samba, Reasi, Udhampur and some other areas. The official said extension of curfew relaxation would depend on improvement in the situation.

Curfew was imposed in Kishtwar and other districts on Eid-ul-Fitr Friday when communal clashes claimed three lives. The army was Saturday called out to assist the civilian administration, and it staged flag marches in Kishtwar town to instil confidence among the people.

The military remained deployed in curfew-bound Kishtwar and seven other districts of Jammu region, namely Rajouri, Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Reasi, Udhampur and Doda.

The situation found echo in parliament also, with Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati demanding President's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir and the Samajwadi Party promptly opposing it.

In parliament, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram dismissed fears that the Kishtwar trouble would lead to a 1990-like situation when Kashmiri Pandits fled the Kashmir Valley after the separatists' campaign began.

Jammu and Kashmir's Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, who represents Kishtwar in the state assembly, resigned Monday after he came under criticism for alleged poor handling of the clashes that later spread to other parts of Jammu region.