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| Protests spread, locals demand stern action against culprits | | Facebook blasphemy | | Asif Iqbal Naik
kishtwar, Oct 30: The protests over facebook blasphemy have spread across Chenab valley as people in Doda, Thatri, Batote, Bhaderwah, Bhalessa, Drabshala and Sarthal took to streets today and held demonstrations seeking stern action against the culprits.
According to reports, thousands of people held a strong protest at Bus Stand Doda to condemn the blasphemous act.
The protestors at different places on Jammu-Kishtwar highway erected barricades and blocked vehicular movement. Meanwhile, Kishtwar district observed complete strike to protest the act. All shops, commercial establishments and educational institutions remained closed. Traffic was off the roads and the town wore a deserted look.
The Beopar Mandal Kishtwar and Hindu organizations also extended their support to the call given by Immam of Jamia Masjid.
Nearly 4000 protestors from Palmar tried to march towards Chatroo, but were stopped by the police and other security forces that blocked all roads leading to area. Protestors from Kurya, Keshwan, Thakri, Sigdi, Dadpath, Passarkot, Chingham and its adjoining villages successfully managed to reach Chatroo as security forces at many places failed to stop the angry protestors.
The administration called additional reinforcements from Udhmapur. Over 15000 protestors assembled at Chatroo and started moving towards Passarkot area where few incidents of stone pelting were reported last night. Passarkot village is the home of the three accused presently in Kishtwar police custody. Like yesterday, the protestors at Chatroo assembled in wee hours and continued protests demanding identification of all the culprits by Friday. They demanded detention of the culprits under PSA.
The protestors also demanded disbanding of VDCs/DDCs with immediate effect. They threatened increased protests incase the demand was not met. The agitators demanded weapons for the Muslim youths on the pattern VDCs/DDCs to restore parity in the area.
The police informed the protestors that a case had been registered under FIR No: 272 U/S 153-A, 295-A RPC, 66-A, 67-A IT Act at police station Kishtwar. The police said three persons Kishori Sharma son of Sohan Lal Sharma, Kirti Sharma son of Mohan Lal Sharma both residents of Passarkot Chatroo and Bansi Lal son of Raj Ram resident of Khariyan Chatroo had been taken into custody.
DIG Doda/Kishtwar Range Gareeb Dass rushed to Kishtwar district and held a meeting with senior police officers at Kishtwar, beside with officials of District Administration Kishtwar to assess the law and order situation arising due to facebook blasphemy. He also issued necessary directions to police officers at Kishtwar and stressed upon maintaining communal harmony, peace and brotherhood.
In order to maintain communal harmony and brotherhood, several prominent members from Hindu community called on Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar and assured their full support to the District administration and also support the stern action initiated by the administration against the culprits. All the visiting members unanimously condemned the blasphemy act through facebook.
It is pertinent to mention here three youths from Passarkot of Chatroo Tehsil of Kishtwar District allegedly created a blasphemous page (http://www.facebook.com/bcpakistan (now blocked) on social networking site facebook and uploaded morphed photographs of holy Quran and Mecca forcing wide spread protests across Chenab valley. |
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