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| Besieged Jammu refuses to relent | | Samba killing was group rivalry: Police | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Aug 2
• Army fails to quell protests
• PDP leader’s house attacked
• Pitched battles fought in town
• Tension in Bishnah, Samba prevails
• Torch processions held in evening
• Gypsy chases protesters, several injured
Even after the maximum possible the administration was able to do, the protracted protests and demonstrations for restoration of forest land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board refused to ebb as people still remained on the roads despite heavy presence of armed forces.
In view of high volatility of situation, strict curfew restrictions were imposed late last night and Army was deployed in wee hours of this morning to control the mobs. All incoming and outgoing routes of the city were sealed before the break of dawn this morning.
However, defying curfew restrictions, highly motivated youth returned to streets and lodged strong protests and demonstrations at several places in the city. At several places including Shastri Nagar, Sanjay Nagar and other Old City areas the demonstrators once again fought pitched battles with security forces.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Jammu Mr K Rajendra has clarified that two persons who were killed yesterday in Samba and their killing attributed to police firing, was in fact due to gang rivalry.
Explaining the incident, he said that this incident took place at about 5.45 p m yesterday when Sanjay Singh fired on Sunil Singh alias Kitto of Mandigarh. Another person Jugal Kishore who tried to intervene also sustained bullet injury. Both Sunil Singh and Jugal Kishore succumbed to their injuries. The incident has taken place on National Highway near Hospital Link road Bus Stand, Samba. The police have registered a case under section 302 RPC. He further clarified that last evening, the police had fired in air to disburse unruly mob near DC’s residence whereas this incident had taken place at Keli Mandi.
Army troops marched through city streets in the curfew-bound Jammu and Samba districts as tense situation prevailed following violent protests over the Amarnath land controversy. At least 13 people were injured overnight when protesters demanding restoration of forest land to the Amarnath board burnt several offices and clashed with security forces. Army personnel conducted flag marches and took positions in several sensitive areas the curfew in the districts enters the second day today, official sources said.
Small protest rallies were still taken out in Bantalab, Talab Tilloo, Panjtirthi, Nai Basti, Rampura and Doodadari Temple areas. In some areas, police fired teargas shells to disperse protesters, sources said adding that situation is tense but under control.
Protest demonstrations were also held at several places along Jammu Pathankot national highway, Bishnah in which over 20 people were injured in incidents of stone pelting.10 people were injured in Ratnal in Bishnah where police used tears gas and fired shots in air to disperse the mob. A car parked inside the office of the youth services and sports was torched by angry protestors. Agitators attacked the house of former PDP legislator Shanti Devi and damaged vehicles parked inside the house. The agitators were shouting slogans against the PDP while ransacking the house of the PDP leader.
The agitators in Samba defied curfew and also manhandled Deputy Commissioner Saurav Bhagat. Reports of unrest also poured in from Hiranagar in Kathua district.
Advocate Leela Karan Sharma, the convener of the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti told media that there was no question of ebbing protests as restoration of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board was the only precondition for restoration of peace. He said that many people across the region were ready to offer their life for the cause. However, he counseled the committed volunteers to fight for the cause and not think of ending their lives.
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti was detained on Monday in the trouble-torn Jammu region while Sadivi Ritambhara was sent back, Bharti arrived here this morning from New Delhi and was to address a press conference here but police took her into custody. She was later taken to Udhampur district.
Reports said that thousands of Shiv Sainiks and other Hindu activists including those of Bajrang Dal had reached Jammu by last evening and they were putting up at various places including the Dharmshalla to launch demonstrations. However, catching information, the administration bundled them all in two trains –one bound for Ahmedabad –to hound them out of Jammu.
Late in the evening protests and demonstration again broke out in several areas where people took out torch protests. An interesting feature of today’s demonstrations was that at many places protestors raised slogans in favour on Army and against the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
In such incident hundreds of protestors in Durga Nagar area gathered on the streets late this evening and raised slogans against the Police. An enraged Police officer rushed his gypsy chasing the protestors resulting into injuries to many of them. |
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