Curfew follows Jammu massacre
Curfew has been imposed in Bhaderwah and Prem Nagar areas of Doda district even as Jammu city observed a hartal in protest against the massacre of 25 Hindus by militants at Chapnari on Friday.
The curfew, a spokesman said, has been clamped as
a preventive measure. The situation in Bhaderwah and Prem
Nagar 'was tense but under control', and forces have been deployed
in full strength at sensitive places to thwart any untoward incident.
There were touching scenes when the bodies of the victims
were brought to Chapnari for cremation. The authorities had a tough
time controlling the mob. Officials who visited Doda said three families were
wiped out in the incidents. In some other families,
only females and children were left now.
The bodies of two bridegrooms -- Khem Raj and
Thoru Ram -- were splattered in blood. "It was a sad scene," said an
official, "The brides were wailing
at the feet of the bodies. On one side I saw the doli in which
Khem Raj would have taken home his bride Leela, who could not speak."
Governor Girish Chandra Saxena and Chief
Minister Farooq Abdullah, meanwhile, arrived in Doda on Saturday to take stock of the situation. Hundreds of demonstrators met them, shouting slogans
against the state authorities's failure to prevent the incident. Dr Abdullah had a
tough time trying to pacify the
crowd, which demanded the deployment of army in Doda district.
"The hands of the army have not been tied down by anyone," the chief minister said, "The army has clear instructions to deal with militancy with a firm hand. There is no question of showing any mercy to these killers."
Governor Saxena said ''it was not possible to
deploy the army everywhere." He, however, assured the
Doda residents that additional troops would be send to flush out militants
with 'your co-operation.' He admitted to the
possibility of 'some weak spots' in the deployment of forces.
"All these issues would be
addressed immediately," said Saxena, who admitted that the
situation was 'difficult'.
Meanwhile, President K R Narayanan has expressed
shock and grief over the massacre. He appealed to the
people of Jammu and Kashmir to remain calm despite such 'blatant provocation' by terrorist elements who were 'seeking to disturb the peace in the country.'
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has condemned the incident.
Its working president
Ashok Singhal demanded 'direct action' to eradicate terrorism. He said the incident
projected a very negative image of the state government, warranting the home ministry
to directly intervene.
Meanwhile, the Panun Kashmir, a representative
organisation of Pandits, said the massacre has once again exposed
the 'tall claims' of the National
Conference government about normalcy returning to the state.
Mukhtar Ahmad, UNI
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