Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 29: After yesterday’s violence at Bhoondh (Sheetal Nagari) over sacrilegious act at Jannu hamlet in the Basohli tehsil of Kathua district, protests sparked in Ramban , Batote and Chanderkote townships in Ramban district, Chenani and Ramnagar townships of Udhampur district today against another sacrilegious act in Shivgadi Jungle falling under Chakwa Panchayat of Patnitop area in Ramban district.
Soon after the news of the sacrilegious act spread, the shopkeepers downed the shutters of their business establishments in Ramban, Chanderkote and Chenani townships while irate mob held a demonstration at Batote and Patnitop and blocked Jammu-Srinagar National Highway protesting against the act. The protests were also held at Ramnagar in Udhampur district against the act.
The traffic on Jammu- Srinagar National Highway remained disrupted for five hours this afternoon as protestors blocked NH at Batote and Patnitop demanding stern action against the culprits.
According to reports the situation is stated to be under control. Soon after the news spread, the DIG, Doda, Ramban Range Ashkoor Wani, Deputy Commissioner Ramban, R A Inqalabi, SSP Ramban, Javed Matoo and SSP Udhampur Suleman Choudhary along with other police and civil officers visited the area to ascertain the situation. They pacified the protesting mob and assured them that the culprits will be arrested within 24 hours. On this assurance protestors dispersed but warned to take to streets after two days in case the culprits were not arrested by then.
SSP, Ramban Javed Matoo later told Excelsior that a sacrilegious act has taken place late last night in the jungles of Shivgadi in Chakwa Panchayat in Batote which sparked protests. He said the situation is under control and the administration is monitoring the situation. He said no arrest has been made so far but the Police has registered a case and soon the culprits will be arrested. He as well as DC Ramban have appealed to the people to maintain calm.
DC Ramban, R A Inqalabi while appealing the people to maintain calm said the police has identified the culprits responsible for sacrilegious act and disturbing peaceful atmosphere in the area. They will be arrested soon and dealt seriously under law.
He said it is unfortunate that some anti social elements tried to disturb the peaceful atmosphere on holy festival of Eid by indulging into a sacrilegious act and they will not be spared at any cost.
Meanwhile, Bhoondh township in Basohli tehsil of Kathua district where a peaceful bandh was observed for second consecutive day after the yesterday’s sacrilegious act which sparked off widespread protests remained calm today. Total bandh was also observed in other towns of Kathua district as a mark of protest against yesterday’s sacrilegious act at Jannu.
Meanwhile, Basohli police has arrested two persons for questioning and creating disturbances in Bhoondh area. They were identified as Shamas-ud-Din and Qamar-ud-Din. The DC Kathua, Shahid Iqbal and SSP Kathua Mohan Lal visited Bhoondh today again to monitor the situation while SDPO Basohli is camping there.
Police said that the situation is calm and under control as no untoward was reported from any where in the area.
SSP Kathua Mohan Lal said that situation is under control and no untoward incident was reported from any where today. He said no arrest has been made as yet as the culprits have managed to escape. The Police has launched a man hunt and they will be nabbed soon.
He said total bandh was observed and protestors also blocked National Highway. He said people were given assurance by him and Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Shahid Iqbal that the culprits will be arrested soon and dealt under law.
Reports said total bandh was observed in Kathua, Basohli, Billawar, Hiranagar and other small townships of Kathua district today with transport remaining off the roads and shopkeepers downing the shutters of their business establishments.
A complete bandh was observed in Kathua township today and transport remained off the roads in Kathua township and on other link roads. However, the traffic plied normally on Jammu-Pathankote National Highway later in the day which was closed for some time by protestors in the morning.
A protest demonstration was also held by the irate youth in Kathua town against the yesterday’s sacrilegious act. The protestors shouting slogans against the Government held police responsible for such acts. They demanded stern action under law against culprits trying to disturb peace. They said earlier such acts also took place in the hilly belt of Kathua district but no one was prosecuted and punished so far with the result people involved in such acts get encouraged.
A peaceful procession was also taken in the town from Kalibari which after passing via Main Chowk Kathua culminated at Parliward.
Reports said total bandh was observed in Basohli township with business establishments remaining closed and transport was off the roads. The people also held a demonstration in the town protesting yesterday’s sacrilegious act in Bhoondh area and demanded stern action against culprits.
Total bandh was also observed in Bani, Billawar, Gujjar Nagrota, Ramkote, Mahar Nagrota, Phenter, Guda Kalyal, Hiranagar and Ghagwal for the whole day. However no untoward incident was reported from any side.
The district administration had also taken elaborate measures to deal with the situation and adequate police force was deployed in these townships.
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