Curfew in Jammu after violent protests over Pulwama attack

jammu-violence-pulwama-pti Vehicles set on fire by protestors against the killing of CRPF personnel in the Pulwama terror attack, in Jammu, on Friday | PTI

A curfew was imposed in Jammu on Friday after protests against the killing of over 40 CRPF men in a suicide attack in Pulwama turned violent.

Twelve people were injured and several dozen cars were torched by irate mobs in areas like Prem Nagar and Gujjar Nagar area of Jammu.

Jammu business community had called a bandh on Friday in protest against the attack on the CRPF. The bandh call, which was supported by Jammu High Court Bar Association, evoked a good response from most of Jammu city though transport and business remained open in other districts of Jammu like Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, and Baderwah.

Intense anti-Pakistan protests took place at several places including Jewel Chowk, Purani Mundi, Rehari, Shaktinagar, Pacca Danga, Janipur, Gandhinagar and Bakshinagar.

According to reports, some bike riding youth carrying the Indian tricolour pelted stones at some houses and set cars ablaze at Prem Nagar.

Reports said tension mounted after several mobs from right-wing organisations took out a procession carrying the tricolor through Gujjar Nagar, a predominantly Muslim locality.

Reports said the mobs turned violent and torched vehicles parked outside Jogi gate cremation ground.

To control the situation, the district magistrate of Jammu issued an order for the imposition of curfew.

“Whereas, in view of the prevailing law and order situation in district Jammu, there is every likelihood of a breach of the peace which may lead to acts of arson, targeting vehicles and causing loss of life and property. In order to maintain law and order, public tranquillity and to protect life and property of the general public, I, Ramesh Kumar, IAS, District Magistrate Jammu, in exercise of powers vested in me under section 144 Criminal Procedure Code hereby impose curfew in the area of whole Jammu city,” the order said.

Earlier, the authorities had asked the protesters to disperse but they didn't comply.

Hundreds of Kashmiris have made Jammu their second home due to the conflict in Kashmir over the years. Some have even settled in the region permanently to escape the suffocating situation in Kashmir. Since the eruption of militancy, many Kashmiris have purchased properties in Jammu and some shift to Jammu during the winters.

The region being nearer to home has emerged as a viable place for many Kashmiris to escape the depressing situation back home. Some employees especially who shift to Jammu during the winter along with the Dar, the shift of the government to Jammu in winters from October to May, have also given have led to the establishment of new colonies in the region. Jammu has immensely benefited from the buying of properties and business by Kashmiris.

Reacting to the situation in Jammu, National Conference vice president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah asked in a tweet that if the security forces and the administration’s attention is shifted to dealing with communal violence in Jammu instead of investigating Thurday's attack and preventing further attacks, who are we helping with the arson and violence? He said he was in touch with the J&K police officials and has been assured that two columns of the Army have been requisitioned and moved to the most vulnerable areas to take control of the situation.

“It should never have been allowed to reach this point. Preemptive measures should have been taken this morning knowing that it is Friday and congregations would assemble for prayers. I hope the situation is now defused without further loss,” he tweeted.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti also reacted to the communal violence in Jammu.

“Distressed to hear about miscreants in Jammu trying to take advantage of the situation by inciting tension. Governor administration should have preempted this by securing minority-dominated areas. Have spoken to IG Jammu to deploy additional security,” she tweeted.