 Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 11: J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu (JKHCBAJ) on Wednesday abstained from courts to press for their demand of a CBI probe in the Kathua rape-and-murder case.
The brutal rape and murder of an eight-year-old nomad girl has polarised the normally peaceful town of Jammu, with the local Bar Association calling for a bandh against what it termed the "targeting of minority Dogras" while the state police had lodged a case against lawyers who allegedly tried to prevent it from filing a charge sheet against the accused.
Markets in Jammu city wore a deserted look as shops and schools remained closed while skeletal public transport was seen plying on various routes.
Majority of the private educational institutions also remained closed as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident, officials said.
The strike, which was supported by several political and civil society groups except Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries (JCCI), was peaceful, though rallies and protests were staged by lawyers and their supporters at various places in the city.
There was no report of any untoward bandh-related incident from anywhere, Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu, Vivek Gupta said.
He said police had made necessary arrangements to ensure that the bandh passes off peacefully.
The strike also received a good response in Kathua, Samba and Udhampur districts of the Jammu province, officials said.
Carrying tricolor and chanting slogans in support of their demands, the Bar Association members led by their president B S Slathia staged a rally from High Court complex and visited various markets in the old city seeking public support to their demands, which also include clarity of the state governments stance on tribal affairs and district status to Nowshera sub-division in Rajouri district.
A group of lawyers also blocked the court road near Janipur in the city and set ablaze worn-out tires while shouting 'Go back, go back, Rohingyas go back'.
Meanwhile, Bar Association Bishnah also staged protest against Rohingyas and other illegal immigrant and demanding CBI probe in Asifa rape and murder case.
Opposition Congress and Panthers party along with several civil society groups had extended support to the strike call but JCCI opposed the call on the plea that there is no justification for the strike as both the major demands of Bar are sub-judice.
Nationalist Student Congress (NSC) student wing of NCP extended full support to the Jammu Bandh call given by Bar Association Jammu and various organizations.
The NSC students protest was led by Er. Rishi Kaul Kilam, National Executive Council Member and Incharge J&K. Showing their resentment, Er. Rishi said that the party feels an obligation to show solidarity and unity with like-minded organizations who pleaded and fight for the right and just cause of the neglected people of this province irrespective of their religion and political affiliations and added that the presence of outsiders in Jammu is also violation of Article 370.
A massive procession of different member organisations of JPPF was taken out all across the Jammu from Jammu city, Kanak Mandi, Gumat Chowk, Talab Tillo, Muthi, Janipur , New Plot, Amphalla, Kachi Chhawani. They made the masses aware about their rights.
The procession finally concluded at Dogra Hall Thakkar Sabha the head quarter of JPPF.
The procession was lead by Pavitar Singh who said that that JPPF's basic aim is to fight for the welfare of the people of Jammu province.
"We all need to unite and raise united voice for inclusive growth and development of Jammu region" he said.
The workers of Dogra Front and Shiv Sena under the leadership of President Ashok Gupta took out a procession in Jammu city thanking the people of Jammu city for successful bandh and condemning the decision of JCC for not supporting the bandh (deportation of Rohingya).
The party workers raised slogans against Bangladeshis and Rohingyas demanding there deportation as they have become a security risk to the nation.
National Panthers Party activists also staged a separate protest in the city in support of the bandh.
Meanwhile Bar Association, Samba and civil society staged protest against the state government and blocked the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway near Samba Chowk for one hour.
According to the report, Bar Association Samba and civil society assembled in Chohatta Chowk Samba and moved in the shape of rally. They raised slogan and shouted 'Rohngiyas go back' and blocked Jammu-Pathankot National Highway near main chowk Samba for one hour and stopped vehicular movement on both the tubes. Shopkeepers also shut their shops to support the Bar Association Samba.
Those who participated and held protests included a team led by Zorawar Singh Jamwal, Shiv Sena Dogra Front led by Ashok Gupta, JK Panthers Party led by its chairman Harsh Dev Singh, Maharaja Hari Singh Bichhar Manch J&K, headed by BS Jamwal, Dogra Saddar Sabha, Traders Federation Ware House, various Bazar/market Associations, Prof. Hari Om, Dogra Brahman Pratinidhi Sabha, JJSF led by Pushvinder Singh & Atul Soodan , Yuva Rajput Sabha led by Rajveer Singh Manhas, Yuva Khatri Sabha led by Vishal Tandon & Kunal Kohli, Ravinder Sharma, ex-MLC and chief spokesman (Congress), National Students Congress, Amar Kashatriya Rajput Sabha J&K, led by its President, Naryan Singh, Paviter Singh, President, JPPF, Dr. Ajay Charangu, chairman, Panun Kashmir, Rajiv Chuni, President, (SOS )Refugees Association, Rashtriya Sarvodaya Party led by Vikram Pangotra, Shiv Sena, Jammu University led by its Vice President Darpan Singh, Vishav Hindu Parshid, Bajrang Dal, Ram Sena led by its President Rajiv Mahajan, Dr. Agnishekhar, Punan Kashmir, Akhil Bhartiya Swarnkar Sang, Dogra Khatri Sabha led by its General Secretary Sumeshwar Kohli, Jammu West Assembly Movement, led by Sunil Dimple , Disabled Welfare Association led by Sushil Kumar, Guru Ravi Dass Sabha, All Jammu Hotel Association led by Inder Jeet Khajuria and many others. |
