In fresh violence after lifting of curfew in Jammu, Amarnath protesters burnt police vehicles and attacked the police control room in Jammu, leaving 21 persons including seven cops injured during a bandh called by Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti in Jammu and adjoining areas on Friday.The Samiti-sponsored bandh is in support of its demand to remove the Governor N N Vohra from his post and restore the forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).Angry over the police's order to call off a dharna at Parade Ground, over 1200 to 1300 SASS activists, who were sitting on a chain hunger strike clashed with a large police contingent at the dharna venue in Jammu city.The protesters, carrying rods, sticks and bricks attacked the police and were joined by Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal and BJP activists, who thronged the place from different parts of the city.They set afire two police vehicles and tried to enter the Police Control Room amid heavy stone pelting, forcing the police and CRPF to resort to heavy tear gas shelling and cane charge to disperse the mobs, official sources said.The clashes have so far left 21 persons including seven cops injured, a police spokesman said, adding that additional CRPF and army police companies have been rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control as pitched battles are still continuing between the police and the protesters.Eighteen protesters have also been arrested, he said.Reports from Udhampur, Kathua, Samba, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Kud, Katra, Reasi and Ramban said the SASS-sponsored bandh is being observed in all these places.Meanwhile, the chain hunger strike started by SASS on July 20, entered the 6th day with over 1000 SASS workers joining the strike.Sangrash Samiti, Shiv Sena, VHP and BJP took out torch light (mashaal) processions in Udhampur, Hiranagar, Bishnah, Basholi, Nagrota, Reasi, Vijaypur, R S Pura, Bantalab, Jewel, Bakshi Nagar, Gangyal and Samba in the region and burnt effigies of the Governor and National Conference chief Omar Abdullah, shouting slogans against them.A SASS activist named Kuldeep Kumar committed suicide by consuming poison while participating in a chain hunger strike over the Amarnath land row on Wedenesday sparking off tension in the region.SASS has been demanding removal of the Governor N N Vohra over surrender of SASB land to the Government and return of the land to the shrine board besides restoration of its full powers.
