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| City shuts down; mobile internet suspended; CM appeals for calm | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, June 15: Some incidents of stone-pelting were reported today as Jammu city witnessed a near total bandh in protest against alleged desecration of a temple here on Tuesday night, an issue which resonated in the state Assembly as well.
Fearing a flare-up, the government suspended mobile internet services and deployed police in strength to maintain law and order.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti appealed for calm, saying, "Jammu and Kashmir is the most secular place" and it should not be "hijacked" by extremist forces".
She said some elements were "hell-bent" on creating communal tension in the region but the people of Jammu, irrespective of their religion, must unite and fight the nefarious designs of such forces.
She warned that communal politics in Jammu region could have a disastrous effect as the state was already facing separatism in the Kashmir valley.
"Separatism and communalism are the two faces of a same coin and they ultimately divide the society and the country," she said while addressing a function at Jammu University.
The city last night saw protesters setting on fire three vehicles and resorting to stone pelting on police after the alleged desecration of an ancient temple situated in Roop Nagar area apparently by a "mentally disturbed" person. Today, a few incidents of stone pelting were reported, barring which the situation across Jammu region remained by and large normal.
Even though no political or social organisation had called for bandh, the businessmen and transporters decided to observe a shutdown in protest against the alleged incident .
Most of the shops and business establishments remained closed whereas traffic remained off the road.
"The situation right now is normal barring a few incidents of protests by local residents. We have deployed adequate number of police personnel," Jammu Deputy Commissioner told .
He said that even as the mobile Internet services have been snapped, no curfew or Section 144 is in force in any part of the city.
"The situation does not warrant the imposition of curfew or Section 144 as it would create problems for the masses. The situation is restricted to one place and that too is under control and we are regularly monitoring it," he said.
A huge posse of police personnel, geared with anti-riots equipment, were deployed in the area after protesters had last night set three vehicles on fire and resorted to stone pelting on police after the news of the desecration of the temple spread in the city.
Earlier in the day, people gathered at the Aap Shamboo temple and performed the "Shudi Karan Puja" there.
Mehbooba said time and again the people of Jammu have showcased their secular credentials and it was evident from the fact that the region gave refuge to people who came there while fleeing from militancy-hit areas. Police said the person accused of desecrating the temple was "mentally unstable" and that he had been arrested.
The issue also resonated in the state Assembly where BJP members created ruckus as soon as the House assembled.
Omar said that instead of fighting over the issue, the legislator should set and example for the people to the follow on the ground. What we do here will be cue for the people in Jammu.
Mehbooba appealed to students to play a positive role and get involved in political activities, but at the same time cautioned them against politics of religion.
"Jammu has always been a glaring example of secular harmony... In 1990, people of Jammu opened their doors for the people who escaped militancy and took refuge here," she said.
She said it was the people of Jammu who had voted her father Mufti Sayeed to the Assembly for the first time in 1985. "It was the secular character of Jammu that they elected my father, a Muslim from Kashmir, from R S Pura," she said. |
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