KISHTWAR: Curfew was lifted in hilly Kishtwar town on Wednesday, 13 days after it was imposed following communal strife, as the situation was returning to normal.
In view of betterment of situation, curfew was lifted from noon in the town, District Magistrate, Kishtwar, Baseer Khan, said.
There was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the district and the situation was returning to normal, he said.
The all-party delegation, which was here since August 19 to hold talks with members of the two communities to end tension, left today, Mr. Khan said.
A peace rally was taken out in the town by two communities to forge communal harmony.
Deadlock between the two communities had been resolved.
An official statement issued here in the evening said: “Breaking the deadlock of past 15 days after the communal clashes that engulfed Kishtwar town, Minister for Medical Education Taj Mohi-ud-Din today convened a joint meeting of leaders of Hindu and Muslim communities and later led a peace march attended by members of the two communities.”
“All the issues raised by the leaders of the two communities pertaining to compensation, lifting of the curfew and check on anti-social elements were resolved amicably,” the statement said.
The minister was deputed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to head an all-party delegation to restore peace.
“The delegation held deliberations for two days with members and leaders of each community to restore peace and harmony in the town,” said the statement.
Curfew was imposed in Kishtwar on August 9 after communal clashes broke out there in which three persons were killed, over 20 others injured and 75 business establishments along with 35 vehicles gutted.
Tension had spread to other districts which witnessed violent protests against the clashes and restrictions were imposed.
The all-party delegation had held several rounds of talks with members of both the communities and officers of the district administration. They also undertook a visit of the affected areas in the district to assess the situation.
Adequate police protection: J&K tells SC
Meanwhile Jammu and Kashmir government today told the Supreme Court that adequate number of police personnel were deployed in Kishtwar district to maintain law and order there following the communal clashes there.
Filing an affidavit before the apex court, the states Chief Secretary Iqbal Khandey said a Commission of Inquiry, to be headed by a former High Court judge, would be set up soon and a formal order is likely to be passed.
He further said an amount of Rs 5 crore has been earmarked for relief and rehabilitation of the victims of the communal clashes.
He said a special investigating team has been constituted to probe 15 cases registered so far in connection with the riots.
The affidavit was filed in response to the apex courts order which had sought his response on the prevailing situation in the district.
A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam took cognisance of the affidavit and posted the case for hearing on 26 July.
The court was hearing a PIL seeking its direction to the government to provide safe passage, food and medical facilities to the stranded pilgrims travelling back from Machil to Batote till their evacuation saying, their survival is under threat. Agencies
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