Indefinite curfew in Jammu, Rajouri

Authorities Sunday imposed indefinite curfew and called out the army to prevent escalation of communal violence in Jammu and Rajouri towns of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. The Amarnath Yatra has been temporarily suspended.

A senior police told IANS that after violence in Kishtwar town, some miscreants were trying to disturb the communal harmony in Jammu city and other parts of the district.

"Curfew has been imposed in parts of Jammu city and Rajouri town to maintain law and order. The situation is peaceful and under control. Curfew has been imposed as a preventive measure," the officer said.

The army carried out a flag march after district authorities sought assistance from the general officer commanding (GOC) based in Nagrota.

The curfew was imposed around midnight in areas like Gandhi Nagar, Pacca Danga, Bakshi Nagar, Pir Mitha, Trikuta Nagar, Janipur, Satwari, Channi Himmat, Bagh-e-Bahu and Nowabad in Jammu city.

Amarnath Yatra pilgrims were told not to proceed towards the Kashmir Valley from here Sunday in view of the tension prevailing in Jammu city and its outskirts.

Police sources said curfew has also been imposed in Rajouri town of Rajouri district in Jammu region, where some miscreants pelted stones at a mosque Saturday evening.

Indefinite curfew continued for the third day Sunday in Kishtwar town where violence claimed two lives and properties worth millions Friday, in clashes between two communities.

The army was called out to assist the civilian administration Saturday, and staged flag marches in Kishtwar town to instil confidence among the people.

State Home Commissioner Suresh Kumar, Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad and Additional DGP (coordination) P.L. Gupta are camping in Kishtwar.

However, reports reaching here from Paddar area in Kishtwar district said four people were received bullet injuries Saturday in mob firing. Some shops were also damaged during the clashes.

Traffic on the Pathankot-Jammu and Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained disrupted for the entire day Saturday.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has extended its protest shutdown call in Jammu for 48 hours, while hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani has called for a state-wide shutdown against the Kistwar incident Sunday.

Senior BJP leader and parliament member Arun Jaitley is scheduled to visit Kishtwar town Sunday as the head of a fact finding team of the party.

--Indo-Asian News Service

sq/vr/ros