Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Feb 15: Tension gripped the townships of Billawar, Bhaddu and Phintar after sacrilegious act, leading to strong public protest, bandh and blockade of road for nearly three hours today.
The trouble started after the locals noticed the sacrilegious act committed by some anti-social elements in the fields at Dadwara village near Bhaddu last evening. The incident evoked strong public protest from one community. The police party from Billawar led by SHO (Prob DSP), Mr Showkat rushed to the spot after coming to know about the incident.
Today, a large number of villagers of the area assembled at main Chowk Phintar and blocked the road at around 9.30 am. They were later joined by the activists of BJP and NPP besides students of two local Degree Colleges and Higher Secondary School, Bhaddu. The irate public raised barricades on the road and stopped the movement of vehicular traffic. They started raising slogans demanding arrest of the accused responsible for the act. A large number of vehicles remained stranded on Dhar- Mahanpur-Billawar-Udhampur road for nearly three hours. The shops were also closed.
Sub Divisional Administration sensing communal tension rushed additional police personnel to the area. SHO Billawar tried to pacify the people but they were demanding immediate arrest of the accused persons. Billawar, Bhaddu and Phinter also observed half- day bandh. The SDM Billawar Dr Vikas Gupta and SDPO Basohli, Mohd Rafiq Manhas sensing communal tension, deployed additional police men. They talked to the people and assured them that action will be taken as per law against the accused persons. Then people opened the road and allowed traffic at round 1 pm.
SDPO, Mr Manhas said that FIR No. 13/2013 has been registered in this connection. He said three suspects have been rounded up by police in this connection. Mr Manhas claimed that tension has been defused in the area and normalcy restored.
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