Jammu, Feb 15 (UNI) The protesting mob on Friday torched 34 vehicles, damaged 100 while as many as nine persons including policemen suffered injuries in clashes and curfew to remain imposed on Saturday after violence erupted during a day-long shutdown observed to protest killings of 44 CRPF personnel in Pulwama terror attack.
44 CRPF personnel were martyred in a brutal terror attack on Thursday in Lethipora area of Awantipora in Pulwama.
The Jammu shutdown call was given by the Chamber of Commerce and Industries supported by the transporters, small scale businessmen, Bar Association of Jammu, Team Jammu and various political outfits.
Hundreds of protestors this morning took out protest rallies in parts of winter capital amid slogans “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Matram”.
Waving National Flag, the protesting mob staged demonstration in parts of Jammu and also torched more than 34 vehicles including two-wheelers and damaged over 100, which further intensified the protests thus forced police and para-military troops to act swiftly.
Police sources said that the mob taking out rally, marched towards Gujjar Nagar area where clashes broke out.
Stones were pelted at the mob by some persons after which they turned violent and set ablaze around 34 vehicles including two-wheelers.
As many as nine persons including two policemen, Sub-Inspector Waseem Manhas, In-charge PP Gujjar Nagar and a Selection Grade Constable suffered injuries. They were rushed to the hospital, police source said.
They said that so far no arrest or detention has been made, while the authorities have continued the curfew imposition in sensitive and violence hit parts of Jammu.
In exercise of powers vested in him under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code, District Magistrate Jammu Ramesh Kumar has ordered imposition of curfew in the area of whole Jammu city to maintain law and order, public tranquility and to protect life and property of general public.
Army was also called in to conduct flag march in view of ‘out of control’ law and order problem.
Hundreds of volunteers of Team Jammu held massive anti-Pakistan and anti-terrorism protest and stood in solidarity with the families of martyr CRPF personnel.
Raising slogans, the volunteers of Team Jammu demanded stern action against Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism in Kashmir Valley. After passing through various bazaars of city here, the protesters demanded befitting reply against such a cowardice act of terrorists.
“We condemn the brutal attack and stand in solidarity with the families of those, who lost their dear ones in the terrorist attack,” said Chairman Team Jammu Zorawar Singh Jamwal while addressing the protesters.
He said, “Centre and the state governments should adopt a proactive policy to flush out and eliminate all terrorists operating in different parts of the state.”
Activists of Young panthers also took out rally led by its State Vice President Partap Singh Jamwal.
The activists blocked the Tawi Bridge road and burn the effigy of Pakistan amid slogans.
Pratap Singh castigating Pakistan for its terror training camps, its Hawala deals, its drug trafficking, its moral and material support to Secession besides its highly rancorous propaganda in the print and electronic media, against India.
He also lamented that Pak's notoriety had assumed alarming and unacceptable proportions. He said that the belligerent neighbour endorsing all kinds of support to the secessionists in Kashmir and brutally assassinating more than 44 CRPF Jawans and injuring dozens should be an eye opener for the international community.
President Jammu West Assembly Sunil Dimple also took out protest rally and threatened to call “indefinite Jammu Bandh”, if the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP fails to start war with Pakistan, replace present political governor Satya Pal Malik with a retired Chief of the army staff as Governor.
BJP leaders and activists led by its state president Ravinder Raina also staged protest demonstration shouting anti-Pakistan slogans.
Various protest rallies were taken out in part of Jammu city while police fired smoke shells to disperse the protestors and in violence, around eight persons including three police personnel also suffered injuries.
Mobile internet service was also snapped as preventive measure to stop rumour mongers and trouble-shooters play spoilsport.
The protestors’ also burnt tyres during the protest while commuters especially the tourists and the Vaishno Devi pilgrims faced hardships while reaching to their destinations.
Security forces installed concertina wire at various locations to restrict movement of protesting mob.
Situation in Jammu was already tense for the past four days after Pro-Pakistan slogans were raised allegedly by some of the Kashmir bound stranded passengers, which fumed the college students.
Police also resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters. The protesting students were demanding action and arrest of those who raised the slogans and tried to disrupt peace in Jammu.
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