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| In grand curfew, birds still ruffled feathers | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Aug 9
Ahead of the arrival of central team, the state government had probably wanted to put a picture of town as all was well. So, they ensured that there is none on the other streets, of course, except camouflaged soldiers, to make any noise on the streets.
In literal terms, it was a grand curfew where even birds could not ruffle the feathers. But, who on earth can stop the angry Jammuites –they ruffled their feathers, flocked to the streets and showed their presence to the visiting team despite being shrilled by the barbed wire.
Despite strict restrictions and soldiers dotting almost every yard, protesters in the town came out on the streets when an all-party delegation visited the state to hold talks over the Amarnath land row.
Led by central Home Minister Shivraj Patil, the 18-member delegation arrived here in the morning and drove through deserted streets guarded by several hundreds of soldiers to reach the Circuit House enroute Hotel Hari Niwas.
At some places, protesters managed to defy the curfew raising anti-government slogans to press for the forest land in the Kashmir valley, which was first allotted to and then reclaimed from a Hindu temple trust.
Women from rooftops of their houses were seen raising religious slogans and banging utensils in protest, even as soldiers watched from below.
'Go back go back, go back to barracks', a crowd shouted at soldiers at Rehari crossing, which falls on the route to the hotel, where the team held meeting with senior civil and police officials and army commanders.
Meanwhile, the Army staged flag marches and imposed curfew restrictions in several districts of the Jammu region. Police said the curfew relaxations have been withdrawn as a precautionary measure in Samba, Jammu, Rajouri and Kathua as an all-party delegation headed by Union Home Minister arrived here from New Delhi to review the situation.
Army troops staged flag marches in Jammu, Samba, Kathua and Poonch districts early today.
"There is no report of any untoward incident so far from any curfew-bound area. The situation is peaceful," said a police officer. In Kathua, curfew was extended for another 72 hours by the district administration. In Jammu and Samba districts, the curfew entered the ninth day today. |
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