Violence in Jammu despite curfew, FIR filed against policeman

Protests were reported from various places in Jammu on Friday despite indefinite curfew imposed in parts of the city following violence over Sikh militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's posters in which a youth was killed.

Meanwhile, police lodged an FIR against the Senior Superintendent of Police's (SSP) security guard for firing at Sikh protesters.

Protests broke out at a number of places as Sikh protesters defied preventive restrictions imposed by administration, and pressed for their demand for arrest and punishment of those responsible for Thursday's firing incident.

A mob stopped the vehicle taking killed youth Jagjit Singh's body, after it was handed over to his family for last rites, in the Gadigarh (Satwari) area and burnt the police vehicle accompanying it and well as half a dozen other vehicles. The protesters were squatting there with the body, a police official said.

Earlier, dozens of angry Sikh protesters smashed vehicles and roadside eateries outside the Jammu railway station forcing closure of markets in the area as well in Gol Market area of Gandhi Nagar.

Protests also erupted in Digiana and Talab Tillo area where authorities had deployed riot police and paramilitary in full strength.

Indefinite curfew continued in areas of Satwari and Mirian Sahib where the army, assisting the civil administration, patrolled the roads.

Curfew was imposed Thursday evening following the violence.

Director General of Police K. Rajendra Kumar, who flew here from Srinagar, chaired a high-level security meeting.

Authorities also ordered the suspension of internet services to check the spread of rumours.

Jammu District Magistrate Simranjeet Singh on Friday ordered service providers to suspend internet, both on landline and mobile networks.

He also imposed prohibitory orders banning the assembly of five or more people all over Jammu.

Educational institutions in Jammu, and the neighbouring districts of Samba, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch remained closed on Friday.

Meanwhile, an FIR was registering in connection with the youth's killing in the police firing.

"An FIR has been registered in Satwari police station against a security guard of SSP-Jammu for firing at protesters in Satwari area in which a youth was killed," a senior police officer told IANS.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has named Ashkoor Wani the new deputy inspector general of Jammu-Kathua range.

Protesters, demanding action against a police sub-inspector who had removed posters of Bhindranwale on Wednesday, on Thursday snatched an AK-47 rifle from a special police officer in Digiana area.

"We have launched a manhunt to trace the culprit and recover the weapon," a police officer said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti condoled the youth's death and appealed for peace in Jammu.