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Journalism of Courage
BANIHAL, JANUARY 2: Kishtwar town has been under indefinite curfew since late last night following large-scale violence after the local Jama Masjid was gutted in a fire that was apparently caused by a short-circuit.
People in the town turned violent after the entire mosque complex, including a library and other institutions of learning for children, was reduced to ashes before fire tenders could reach the spot.
An official spokesman said the fire fighting operation was hampered because a mob manhandled the sub-divisional magistrate and the additional superintendent of police.
Sources said violence erupted after the police resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the mob which was swelling gradually. The mob then started throwing stones and manhandled both the SDM and the ASP.
Thereafter, some of the demonstrators went to the office of the SDM and set it ablaze. They also torched two wine shops in the area.
As repeated lathicharges by the police failed to have any effect, the administration decided to impose curfew in the town around midnight.
Officials said the situation in the town was tense but under control. The Minister for Social Welfare, Bashir Ahmed Kitchloo, is camping in the area.
