Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 21: Curfew was imposed in Rajouri this afternoon and Army called out, which staged flag march in the town to restore confidence among the people and normalcy as group of youth pelted stones on CRPF and police and damaged couple of vehicles protesting against alleged sacrilegious act by the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists.
Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Deepti Uppal announced imposition of curfew within the Municipal limits of Rajouri town this afternoon after prohibitory orders imposed by her earlier in the day failed to have any impact on the youth, who fought pitched battles with para-military and police personnel at Gujjar Mandi, Abdullah Bridge and Bela Colony besides some other areas of the town demanding arrest of the Bajrang Dal and VHP activists, whom they accused of committing a sacrilegious act while torching flag of the Islamic State (IS) in Rajouri on Saturday.
Official sources said to prevent any flare up of violence in communally sensitive Rajouri town, the district administration requested Army, which moved out in the town at 3.15 pm and staged flag march in sensitive towns including Rajouri City after which the protesters dispersed. CRPF and police remained deployed in Rajouri town and other sensitive areas in strength to maintain law and order.
Official sources said the district civil and police administration arranged a meeting of two communities in Rajouri this morning after the call for bandh given by some organisation of majority community. After the meeting, senior BJP and VHP leaders told the media that they appreciate sentiments of majority community and if they have been hurt unintentionally by them they express regret. A similar regret had earlier been made by BJP MLC from Rajouri Vibodh Gupta. At the same time, the BJP and VHP leaders said that those responsible for raising IS and Pakistani flags in Rajouri should be immediately arrested and charged with sedition.
Despite regret, some youths came out at Gujjar Mandi, Abdullah Bridge and Bela Colony Bridge and started pelting stones on the CRPF and police, who initially exercised restraint but later retaliated with lathicharge to disperse the crowd.
Over a dozen persons including four police personnel were injured in stone pelting and lathicharge. The injured constables, who were admitted in the District Hospital Rajouri, have been identified as Mohammad Rashid, head constable, Mohammad Rafiq, selection grade constable, Anil Kumar and Mohammad Yasir, both constables. They had been hit by stones pelted by the mob. The youth with minor injuries didn’t report for treatment.
The mob pelted stones on two parked vehicles and a shop causing damage to them. While initially, only the majority community shops were closed in Rajouri town and outskirts, later shops of minorities were also closed.
However, it was only after imposition of curfew and deployment of Army that situation was defused in Rajouri town and outskirts. Authorities were keeping strict vigil on the situation. Over 15 youths involved in stone pelting have been arrested so far.
The protesters were demanding arrest of Bajrang Dal and VHP activists responsible for the tension after registration of FIR against them while BJP, VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders have sought arrest of those responsible for raising IS and Pakistani flags in Rajouri.
Meanwhile, people also held protests and observed bandh at Thanna Mandi and Darhal in protest against the sacrilegious act.