The Hindu : Front Page : Curfew imposed in Jammu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 28, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Curfew imposed in Jammu

Staff Reporter

Fresh protests erupted after a protester on hunger strike died
His wife alleged that the police tried to cremate the body without the family’s permission

— Photo PTI

Policemen lathicharge protesters, after a demonstration during the Jammu bandh to mourn the death of Kuldeep Kumar Dogra turned violent on Sunday.

Jammu: A day after the large-scale violence in which around 70 persons were injured, curfew was imposed in Jammu on Sunday.

Protesters, however, defied the orders and took out rallies, clashed with police and burnt tyres, as demonstrations against the revocation of the order allotting land to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board showed no signs of abating. Police fired several rounds in the air to disperse the mobs and resorted to cane-charge.

Over 300 protesters assembled on the Jammu-Poonch highway at Domanna on Sunday. Several Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti activists were picked up by the police and put under preventive detention. The Samiti chief Leela Karan Sharma was picked up by the police as he was addressing newsmen.

“We have detained the Mayor and other protesting leaders for law and order purposes,” Superintendent of Police (North) Randeep Kumar told The Hindu. “But this is preventive detention. We will not register any case.”

Curfew was relaxed in some areas after 5 p.m. The three-day strike has been extended till Monday.

Fresh protests erupted a few days ago after the death of Kuldeep Kumar, who was on a hunger strike in protest against the State government’s decision to cancel the land allotment order, on Wednesday. In the last three days, 40 police personnel, mostly constables, have been injured. Police personnel became the target of the protesters after Kumar’s wife Shilpi alleged that police tried to cremate her husband’s body on the intervening night of July 23 at Bishnah without the family’s permission.

“We accept that there was a judgmental error as police tried to cremate the body early in the morning in the presence of the family of the deceased,” Divisional Commissioner Sudhanshu Pandey said. “One has to understand the tense situation under which the decision was taken.” The State administration said a probe had been ordered into the issue. The police are awaiting the post-mortem report from the Government Medical College.

Meanwhile, an appeal for peace by Governor N.N. Vohra has evoked little response. The protesters have demanded that the Governor first clarify his stand on the issue.

“I had humbly extended an invitation to all those who are aggrieved and concerned over various issues,” Mr. Vohra said. “I sincerely feel that there is no issue which cannot be resolved amicably through a process of dialogue. I, therefore, renew my appeal to the people of Jammu to come forward and help in restoring normality through dialogue. Let us work together towards this goal.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page