SRINAGAR As there was no let-up in attacks on Kashmiris despite curfew in Jammu, several trade bodies have called for Kashmir bandh on Sunday to protest attacks by frenzied mobs on Kashmiris in states winter capital and other parts of India.
Reports said that mobs carrying tri-color staged protests at Ghandi Nagar and other places in curfew-bound Jammu and allegedly damaged the vehicles belong to Kashmir, most of the employees working in civil secretariat and other departments.
The taking out of protest rally has raised questions about the strictness in curfew as has been claimed to have been imposed in the winter capital.
Earlier, on Saturday morning, a number of quarters belonging to Kashmiris were attacked on at Janipur Jammu.
The mobs reportedly entered the premises and attacked quarters of Kashmiris while police remained a mute spectator, they said.
Also videos surfaced on social media about the attacks on Kashmir and one them showed a Kashmiri trucker with blood oozing from his forehead shouting back at the goons.
On Friday, there was widespread violence in which nearly 30 vehicles belonging to a particular community were reduced to ashes while more than 50 vehicles were damaged during a strike called by the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries and Bar Association in the states winter capital against Thursdays attack on CRPF in Lethpora Pulwama in south Kashmir.
The fresh attacks on Kashmiris comes despite the curfew imposed by district magistrate from 2:30 p.m. yesterday. Army also carried a flag march and stands deployed in strength across the Jammu city and around other sensitive parts.
There was violence yesterday at several places including Gujjar Nagar, Shahidi Chowk, Janipur, Purani Mandi, Pacca Danga, Rehari, Residency Road, New Plot, Gummat, Prem Nagar and Narwal.
Protests In Srinagar, Anantnag
[[{“type”:”media”,”fid”:”38546″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”instance_fields”:”override”}]]
At around 1500 hours, a shutdown was observed in Lal Chowk city centre and adjoining areas here as a mark of protest against attacks on Kashmiris in Jammu and outside the state.
Shopkeepers in Lal Chowk, Maisuma, Residency Road and other adjoining areas downed their shutters in response to a shutdown called by trade bodies of the Valley earlier in the day.
The traders also took out a protest march to condemn the attacks on Kashmiris in Jammu and outside the state. They demanded safety of Kashmiri traders and students outside the Valley.
Various trade bodies and employees’ unions also held a protest at Press Colony here.
The trade bodies have also called for Kashmir bandh on Sunday and call for it was issued by the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Forum, Kashmir Economic Alliance and other trade bodies of the Valley.
Meanwhile, protests also broke out amid a spontaneous shutdown in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Most of the shops in Anantnag town were shut to protest the violent demonstrations in Jammu and alleged harassment of Kashmiris in other parts of the country.
Protests broke out in Jammu over the terror attack in south Kashmir’s Pulwama in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed on Thursday. A curfew has been imposed in Jammu as a precautionary measure.
Later on Saturday, groups of youth clashed with security forces in Anantnag after rumours spread about a Kashmiri driver being killed in an attack in Jammu.
However, police refuted the rumours, saying they were totally baseless and fake.
Muslims Shift 6000 Kashmiris In 2 Mosques At Bhatandi, Talabkhatikan
Amid unabated mob frenzy despite curfew, around six thousand people from Kashmir have been shifted to safety by police and Muslims at Bhatandi mosques in the winter capital of the state.
Local news agencies CNS and GNS reported that around 5000 Kashmiris who arrived in Jammu from different places or those putting up rented accommodations in vulnerable locations were shifted to Makah Masjid at Bhatandi on Saturday.
Reports said the locals from Jammu assisted by police visited different hotels and rented accommodations besides railway station and main bus stand and shifted the Kashmiris to safety. They said mosque is spacious and they have been taken care of by the locals who have set up Langar (community kitchen) for the people.
Similarly, reports said, around a thousand Kashmiris have been shifted to Jamia Masjid, Kati khan Tallab Jammu. The local Muslims organized Langar for the Kashmiris.
Mobile Internet Services Suspended In Kashmir
Mobile internet services were Saturday suspended in most parts of Kashmir while the network speed was throttled in other parts as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, officials said.
Mobile internet has been suspended in south Kashmir’s four districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama and central Kashmir’s Srinagar and Budgam districts, they said.
The officials said the network speed has been throttled in north Kashmir’s Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts.
They said the high speed internet has been suspended as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in the wake of alleged harassment of Kashmiri people in Jammu and outside the state.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
ACT NOW |
MONTHLY | Rs 100 | |
YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |