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| City keeps cops on toes; violence unabated | | Leela, Khajuria among 100s arrested, several injured; tributes paid to martyr | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | July 27
On fifth day of the fresh round of agitation, situation in winter capital city and its adjoining areas continued to remain tense as protestors openly defied curfew restrictions and fought pitched battles with Police and other security forces deployed in several areas.
The Old City areas of Pacca Danga, Kachi Chhawni, Parade, Raj Tilak Road and Purani Mandi continued to be the epicenter of violent demonstrations where scores of people including a Jawan of Rapid Action Force and several Police cops have been injured. Incidents of smashing of public property have also been reported from several areas as Police and other security forces found themselves on receiving end of the protestors.
In the day long of intensified battles, more than 100 protestors including Shri Amarnath Yatra Samgharsh Samiti convener Leela Kiran Sharma, BJP state chief Ashok Khajuria, Jammu Bar president BS Slathia, senior BJP leader Chaman Lal Gupta and Praja Parishad leader Chander Mohan Sharma were taken into preventive custody when the defied the curfew restrictions and lead processions in several areas particularly in Parade area.
Curfew had been clamped in the City last midnight in view of Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti’s decision to hold Sankalp Divas in memory of the martyr Kuldeep Kumar Dogra who sacrificed his life for the cause. After defying curfew restrctions Convener of the Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti on sunday was the first to surprise police force in Parade ground area when he joined activists in paying glowing tributes to Kuldeep Verma, a middleaged activist of sangarsh samiti who died on wednesday during relay hunger strike.
Stunned police force found no other way to counter the marching army of Sangarsh Samiti Acitivists but to open lathi charge. Senior leaders Leela Karan Sharma, BJP spokesman Ramesh Arora, Praja Parishad leader Chander Mohan Sharma faced the maximum brunt and were beaten brutally by the police force while they were sitting on the pavements. Several activists received critical injuries on head as police targeted them to silence their voice.
Meanwhile more than half a dozen other senior BJP leaders and others were arrested by police at they defied curfew restrictions to participate in tribute ceremony.
State BJP chief Ashok Khajuria who was earlier placed under house arrest also ensured his presence in parade ground and courted arrest laong with first citizen of Jammu city Mayor Kavinder Gupta. Senior BJP leader and former MOS Defence Prof Chamal Lal Gupta was arrested by police along with large numbe rof supporters outside his residence in Gandhi Nagar area. VHP leader Ramakant Dubey, Praja Parishad chief Chandermohan Sharma, ABVP leader Ramesh Pappa and few others were also arrested by police at various places to prevent any untoward incident during the tribute ceremony. Condemning the incident of use of police force against activists who assembled in parade ground to pay tributes to Kuldeep Verma Spokesmanof Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti Tilak Raj Sharma said, the situation in Jammu reminds him of emergency days. He said it is even worst than emergency as police force is not even sparing elderly people who wish topay their homage to a martyr who died for the cause of Amarnath land transfer. He condemned the police action and warned the administration that they would continue their struggle and agitation would go on till it meets its logical end.
On the other hand violent protests continued in old city area in Jammu in which scores of local residents of half a dozen police men were injured. Lack of coordination between the paramilitary forces, RAF and the state police was visible on the ground in parade ground area. Commaders of RAF nad paramilitary were unhappy with the approach of the district authorities in maintaining restrain. On many occasions through out the day when angry mob charged at policemen and pelted stones no clear cut orders were given to RAF commanders to quell the mob. In return jawnas of RAF were hit hard by the mob along with state police in ding dong battles.
Reports reaching here from other adjoining areas said that large number of demonstrations was held at several places and demonstrators burnt down effigies and shouted anti Governor slogans. In the evening torch processions were organized in Talab tillo area and women and children came out in large number to show their anger against the use of police force on activists assembled to pay tributes to Kuldeep Verma. |
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