Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 14: Curfew continued in Kishtwar for the sixth day running even as restrictions were partially relaxed in Samba and other areas of Jammu region which witnessed incidents of communal clashes recently.
"No relaxation in the curfew was given in Kishtwar. The decision to relax the curfew is taken keeping in view the situation on the ground, which is being reviewed regularly," Kishtwar District Magistrate Baseer Khan said."There are no reports of any untoward incidents in the past 24 hours," Khan added.
The day curfew in the border district of Samba was lifted today, a senior police officer said, adding that Army personnel have now been withdrawn from the area. The day curfew was also lifted in the border town of Sunderbani in Rajouri district.
The curfew was relaxed from three to eight hours in Jammu (south), Rajouri, Bhaderwah, Udhampur, Reasi, Billawar, Bani, Basholi, Kathua and Sunderbani, police said.
But restrictions continued in the Old City and eastern areas of Jammu, in parts of Rajouri town, at Thathri and in the Gandoh area of Doda district.
"The curfew has been relaxed in several areas at different timings. In Jammu region, the southern part was given relaxation, along with a portion of Rajouri today," said Jammu Zone Divisional Commissioner, Shantmanu.
He said that the curfew may be briefly relaxed in Kishtwar tomorrow in view of Independence Day celebrations.
But internet services for mobile phone and wi-fi users remained suspended for the fourth day today across Jammu and Kashmir. Internet speeds for broadband services, too, were reduced with a view to checking the upload of objectionable material on social networking sites, official sources said.
Meanwhile, full dress rehearsals were held at Jammu and other district headquarters in the region in the run-up to Independence Day tomorrow. Schoolchildren, however, did not participate in the preparations on account of prevailing tensions.
Police today detained 13 activists belonging to a local outfit as they were on their way to the summer capital of Srinagar to hoist the National flag there.
"Thirteen activists of an organisation were detained in the Bakshinagar area of the city as they were on their way to Srinagar to hoist the National flag there," police said.
The activists, who belong to a little-known organisation 'Jammu Hurriyat Conference', were being led by their President Chetan Sharma.
Nineteen people were arrested in Jammu region yesterday in connection with protests and violence over the Kishtwar clashes. A total of 141 people have so far been taken into custody in connection with violence on Eid day in Kishtwar.Jammu Bar Association president MK Bharadwaj has alleged that police were also arresting minor children in their crack down against protesters.
A total of 68 shops, seven hotels and 35 vehicles were damaged during Friday's violence in Kishtwar, which also led to the deaths of three persons. |
