JAMMU, AUG 14: Undeterred by continuous Pakistani firing, thousands of Hindus and Muslims assembled at various places on this side the Line of Control (LoC), and held protest demonstrations against the neighbouring country on the occasion of its Independence Day on Saturday.Significantly, Muslims outnumbered their Hindu brethren in the demonstrations, organised on such a large scale for the first time on Pakistan's Independence Day ever since the outbreak of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir a decade ago.A number of demonstrators wanted to march upto the LoC to protest against Pakistan for aiding and abetting insurgency in the Valley. However, they were persuaded by the local police and Army officials to stay away from the border in view of the tension prevailing there.Shouting slogans like Bharat Mata ki Jai, Pakistan Murdabad and Nawaz Sharif Murdabad, people from both the communities gathered at Khour, Palanwalla, Mendhar and Poonch. They also burnt the effigy and photographs of Pakistan PM NawazSharif and Saudi millionaire turned militant Osama Bin Laden, besides the Pakistani flags at all these places.The call for anti-Pakistan demonstrations was not given by any political party, but organised by residents of border villages affected by continuous unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops over the years. Nearly one lakh people from R S Pura tehsil have migrated near the border due to stepped up Pakistani firing during the Kargil conflict. Though Pakistani mortar shells continue to pound their native places, no migration has been noticed from near the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts so far. On Saturday too, Pakistani troops reportedly resorted to mortar shelling and firing at various places in both districts.The biggest demonstration was reportedly organised in the Muslim dominated Mendhar area of Poonch district where a local advocate, Zaffar Ullah, led the nearly 6,000 strong crowd comprising men, women and children.Similarly, border villagers held a demonstration at Kour, raisinganti-Pak slogans. Reports of similar demonstrations were also received from various other border areas including Balakote and Sawjian (both in Poonch district).According to senior police officials, there were no incidents of Pakistani flags being hoisted in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. Instead, residents closed their establishments and raised black flags in protest of Pakistan.
