Army troops staged flag marches in major towns of Jammu region on Sunday morning to defuse the tension triggered by Friday’s communal clashes in mountainous Kishtwar town which left two dead, several injured besides huge damage to property.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah appealed for calm asking people not to fall prey to rumours.
He sought peoples support to help the government in restoring peace and normalcy. Omar announced that the state government would not allow any politician to visit Kishtwar town.
The state authorities had earlier detained senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Arun Jaitley at the Jammu airport immediately after his arrival at the airport. Jaitley planned to visit Kishtwar.
Talking to rediff.com, Divisional Commissioner Shantmanu said that curfew has been imposed in almost all the major towns of Jammu region since Sunday morning.
He said the divisional administration has sought the army’s help to maintain law and order. “The army has staged flag marches in Jammu, Rajouri, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi on Sunday. “The overall situation in the entire Jammu divisional is tense but under control,” the divisional commissioner added.
The army, paramilitary forces and local police are patrolling the town to maintain calm. The Omar told a news conference that some political parties were trying to exploit the situation adding “we will do everything to restore calm.”
Internet services were snapped in the entire state on Sunday morning. However, the BSNL broadband services are functional.
The state government has already announced a high level inquiry to look into the Friday’s Kishtwar incident which triggered clashes and large scale violence in the town. The divisional commissionerm who is conducting the enquiry has been asked to complete it in a time bound manner.
The government has already shifted the Kishtwar district magistrate and the district police chief.
The BJP has extended its 24-hour bandh to 72 hours. Reports of clashes have also come in from Jammu city following which curfew was imposed and the army’s help sought to prevent escalation of the situation.
Image: The streets of deserted Srinagar Photograph: Umar Ganie
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