 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 17: No relaxation was granted in the curfew restrictions which continued for the third consecutive day in Jammu city on Sunday even as the Army staged flag march in sensitive areas, officials said.
Senior civil and police officers held a marathon meeting with prominent citizens as part of efforts to restore normalcy in the city, they said.
Internal security columns of the Army, which were deployed in the curfew-bound areas, were seen staging flag marches, while dozens of persons were taken into preventive custody to maintain law and order, they said.
"Curfew continues to remain in force in the city and there is no untoward incident reported during the night or this morning," Inspector General of Police, Jammu, M K Sinha, told.
He, however, said minor stone-pelting incidents were reported at a few places on Saturday but overall the situation was under control.
"The situation is being monitored and a decision to relax curfew will be taken later in the day after fresh review of the situation," he said.
Sinha along with Divisonal Commisioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Kumar Verma and district development commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar held a marathon meeting with prominent citizens of different faiths here late Saturday evening.
The officers appealed to participants to play their role in restoring normalcy in the city and frustrate nefarious designs of elements bent upon dividing people on communal lines.
The officials said 18 Internal Security (IS) columns of Tiger Division along with air support from White Knight Corps continue to remain deployed in curfew-bound areas including Gujjar Nagar, Janipur, Shahidi Chowk, Talab Khatika, Sidhra and other sensitive areas.
While nine columns were deployed on Friday after a requisition by Jammu civil authorities to bring the situation under control, nine more columns were deployed on Saturday.
The officials said dozens of persons were taken into preventive custody as groups of protesters attempted to defy curfew at some pockets including Janipur and New plot in the city on Saturday.
"The police acted promptly and the situation was brought under control," he said.
Reports of peaceful candle light protests were also reported from almost all district headquarters across Jammu region Saturday night to pay homage to martyrs. |
