JAMMU : Four people were killed today when security personnel opened fire at a mob that had gathered at a BSF camp in Ramban district protesting against alleged manhandling of an Imam of the area by the force.
Curfew was imposed tonight in Ramban district in Jammu region as tension erupted following the incident at Shadi Gool village, about 210 km from here, in which 44 people including security personnel, were also injured during the clashes and stone-pelting.
Prohibitory orders will be imposed tomorrow in all major towns of the Kashmir Valley, officials said tonight. Separatists have given a bandh call tomorrow against the deaths of the protestors.
The State Government ordered a magisterial inquiry while Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde directed a probe on the role of BSF which is stationed in the area to guard railway installations.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the killing of protestors and said such incidents had the potential to jeopardise the peaceful atmosphere in the state.
“It is highly unacceptable to shoot at unarmed protesters just because they were reportedly protesting manhandling of an Imam of their area” Omar said in a statement.
He said there was no justification or rationalization of this “deplorable” act. “This shocking act warrants and demands the severest of condemnation in the strongest possible terms.”
Shinde while ordering an inquiry into the incident said any “excessive use of force will be dealt with strictly.”
Inspector General of BSF Jammu Frontier Rajeev Krishna said its personnel opened fire in self-defence with “maximum restraint” to quell the violence by the mob which tried to storm their storehouse of arms and ammunition.
He said one BSF jawan sustained gun-shot wounds, as the protesters pelted stones and tried to force their way.
After the firing by BSF personnel, the mob turned violent and pelted stones at Deputy Commissioner’s office besides setting ablaze an official vehicle of an Additional Deputy Commissioner, officials said. Angry protests were witnessed in adjoining Batote and Chandrakot.
To a question about the allegation of local people that BSF had done an act of sacrilege, the IG said “BSF is a highly professional force. We respect every religion and religious books. BSF has been posted here for last several years and no allegation has come to us that any BSF personnel had indulged in any kind of such act in the past”.
Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo said the disturbances broke out over allegations of manhandling of the cleric of a seminary and his charge that the BSF personnel committed an act of sacrilege.
BSF released an official statement in Delhi giving details about the incident and said one BSF vehicle was badly damaged by the civilians besides inflicting injuries to many BSF personnel.
Protesters blocked all the roads going towards the BSF post and thus force personnel remain confined to the post, it said.
“It is learnt that efforts were made by a section of protesters and they tried to attack the post and inflict injuries to BSF and police persons compelling them to open fire in self defence,” the statement added.
Following the firing incident, a shutdown was enforced in Bhaderwah, Gool, Ramban, Banihal and Sangaldan area of Jammu region amid violent protests during which 2 official vehicles, and as many ambulances were set on fire in Ramban and Gool areas and the office of District Development Commissioner (DDC) in Ramban came under attack with its furniture ransacked.
In order to crack down on the spread of rumours, the state authorities reduced the bandwith which disables use of the internet on mobile.
In Jammu, protests were held at Khatika Talab area and protesters raised anti-government and anti-BSF slogans.
As a percautionary measure, the traffic on 300-km Srinagar-Jammu national highway was suspended till 1800 hours. The Amarnath convoy was stopped at Patnitop and allowed to move only after imposition of the curfew.
According to an advisory issued by Inspector General (Traffic) Muneer Khan, “no traffic will ply from midnight tonight from either Jammu or Srinagar till further orders”.
Of the 44 injured, including 2 jawans in clashes and firing, 16 were airlifted to Jammu admitted to GMC Hospital, two taken to GMC Hospital in Srinagar and remaining were being treated were at Ramban hospital.
Seven injured were being treated for bullet wounds. (AGENCIES)
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