Three Jammu towns tense over claims of Diwali crackers being packed with Koran pages

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Though business establishments run by Hindus were open in the town, the bandh had thrown normal life out of gear as all vehicular traffic had gone off the road and educational institutions were closed. With protestors having raised blockades by burning tyres at various places, the police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in strength across the town, to check any untoward incident.

In far-off Nowshera town of border Rajouri district, Hindus had blocked traffic on the Sunderbani-Poonch road following the detection of nearly half a dozen cows in a tempo traveler. As its driver fled from the spot, the protestors alleged that these bovine animals were being smuggled.

The blockade continued for nearly five hours beginning 8 am, and it was lifted only after assurances by senior civil and police officers that strict action will be taken against those involved in the matter.

Meanwhile, in Jammu city, police have registered a case and started looking for over a dozen people who had allegedly tried to construct a temple over a Muslim ziarat at Bakshi Nagar area here three days ago. This followed a written complaint from officials of Auqaf Islamia, sources said.

Inspector General of Police for Jammu zone, Danish Rana, attributed these incidents to attempts by some unscrupulous elements to engineer communal tension in the region. While the issue regarding protest at Narian has been resolved, the police have been looking into the Bhaderwah incident, he added.