Violence mars Jammu bandh, Army called in

By Shujaat Bukhari

JAMMU, FEB. 5. At least one person was killed and three others injured when security forces opened fire to quell a violent mob in the Narwal area here today during the bandh called in protest against the killing of six Sikhs in Srinagar on Saturday. As the situation deteriorated, the Army was called in to enforce prohibitory orders.

A number of vehicles were set ablaze, Government offices ransacked and over 40 people, including 30 policemen, injured as the demonstrators fought pitched battles with the police.

The authorities were forced to impose indefinite curfew in Jammu and Udhampur towns where several Sikh organisations called a bandh today. The bandh was supported by the BJP, the Shiv Sena and some other parties. Defying the prohibitory orders, Sikhs took out processions in the Gandhi Nagar, Nanak Nagar, Digiana, Simbal and Narwal areas raising slogans against the Government, militants and Pakistan.

The situation took an ugly turn in the Narwal area when a few hundred Sikhs tried to enter a mosque. Efforts to stop them from doing so failed and the police resorted to a lathicharge and burst teargas shells. The demonstrators, however, marched ahead and the BSF personnel deployed there opened fire to disperse the mob. At least four Sikhs received bullet injuries. While one Mahinder Singh of Anantnag died of injuries in hospital later another of the injured, Jeevan Singh, was airlifted to the PGI, Chandigarh.

The Army was then deployed in the sensitive Gandhi Nagar, Nanak Nagar localities and the Muslim-dominated Residency Road and Ustad Mohalla areas. While it was said the BSF opened fire against the mob, an official release issued in the evening claimed that the police had fired in the air to quell the demonstrators. The Jammu Divisional Commissioner, Mr. Anil Goswami, has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

Clashes between the protesters and the police continued till late in the evening. At least three vehicles belonging to the police and the Groundwater Commission and two offices of the power and excise departments were set ablaze. Dozens of vehicles were damaged in stone-throwing.

At least 40 people including a photojournalist of the Hind Sanmachar and 30 policemen were injured in the clashes.

All-party meeting

The Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, who returned here from Srinagar convened an all-party meeting at his residence to discuss the latest situation.

PTI reports from Srinagar: Meanwhile, the curfew imposed in parts of Srinagar yesterday, was lifted from seven police station areas as the situation was stated to be well under control. A police spokesman said the curfew in the Shergarhi, Sadar, Maisuma and Rajbagh areas would continue.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : PMK has parted company: Laxman
Next     : Farooq faces Sikh ire