Curfew back in Jammu, Samiti intensifies stir

In other districts of Jammu region, curfew was relaxed for varying periods in Kishtwar, Udhampur and Samba as the three-day ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ called by the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti (SASS) to demand restoration of the 100 acres of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board entered its last day. Curfew was clamped after 40 people, including nine policemen, were injured in late-night clashes.

Meanwhile, accompanied by their parents, children, turned up at police stations across Jammu to court arrest as they shouted religious and patriotic slogans.

Some unidentified persons barged into the house of BJP state unit general secretary Ajay Jamwal and torched his vehicle. The party said the incident was to spread fear among the pro-Amarnath agitators.

Meanwhile, the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti intensified its agitation and launched a civil disobedience movement with the J&K Government urging the people to stop payment of all taxes. Samiti convenor Leela Karan Sharma said, “The Sangharsh Samiti has called upon the people of Jammu region to participate in the Shri Krishna Sudershan Chakra Singh Naad Yatra on August 23. The Samiti will also take out a “funeral procession” of the Central Government to protest against its silence over the incidents of violence against various sections of minority Kashmiris and burning of the national flag by secessionists.” The Samiti also announced its four-member panel that would meet the Committee constituted by Governor N N Vohra for resolving the Amaranth row.