Curfew in Bhaderwah, Kishtwar; mobile internet services snapped
Mob in Bhaderwah town defy curfew, throw stones; one CRPF trooper injured
JAMMU : Tension mounted in Jammu’s Bhaderwah and some areas of Kishtwar prompting authorities to impose a curfew while parts of Kashmir observed a shutdown over the controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammed by two now-suspended BJP leaders, officials said on Friday.
A mob of about 150 people on Friday morning came out on the streets and threw stones at security personnel in Doda district’s Bhaderwah town, leading to injuries to one Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.
Curfew was imposed in Bhaderwah on Thursday after communal tension erupted. The authorities also imposed a curfew in the adjoining district of Kishtwar and issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in Ramban district.
Mobile internet services were also snapped in Bhaderwah town and the Kishtwar district.
“There was an incident of stone pelting by about 100 to 150 people outside Jamia Masjid in Bhaderwah town on Friday morning. A CRPF jawan suffered minor injuries in it,” a police officer said. He said security forces fired some tear gas shells to disperse the mob and had been able to restore peace.
Overall, a senior Doda district official said the tension has started subsiding and “the situation remains under control”.
Additional director general of police (ADGP) Mukesh Singh, who is camping in Bhaderwah, said, “Friday prayers passed off peacefully and the situation in Bhaderwah is under control. We are constantly monitoring the situation and whosoever tried to vitiate atmosphere will be dealt with sternly”.
He said, “trouble erupted initially over some post followed by a counter-post on social sites and then some wrong statements followed that hurt the sentiments of a particular community. Hence, curfew was clamped”. “Curfew will continue and as and when the situation starts returning to normal, it will be relaxed,” he said.
“However, this morning there was some stone pelting and force had to be used. The situation is now under control,” said the ADGP.
A local official from Bhaderwah informed that in a bid to soothe frayed nerves to help restore peace in the town, prominent citizens from Muslim and Hindu communities have decided to hold a meeting on Friday evening.
Kishtwar deputy commissioner AK Sharma said the restrictions in Kishtwar district were being continued as a precautionary measure.
“There is no untoward incident in the district but being Friday, the administration decided to continue with the curfew restrictions,” Sharma added.
Ramban deputy commissioner Massrat-ul-Islam said the situation in the district was under control. “The situation is absolutely normal and under control but as a precautionary measure we imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144. On Thursday, the prohibitory orders were imposed in Batote town but on Friday, we extended these orders to all the four subdivisions of Ramban, Gool, Ramsu and Banihal,” Islam said.
The Ramban administration also facilitated the travel of 89 Haj pilgrims from Ramban to Srinagar to catch a flight on June 13 to Mecca.
A senior Jammu and Kashmir police officer said FIRs have been filed against the cleric who allegedly called for violence against suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma and a 16-year-old who allegedly uploaded an objectionable post about the Prophet on social media. “FIRs have been registered in both the cases. The police have warned that anyone found violating law and order will not be spared,” said a senior police officer.
The DGP said, “Wrong utterances should be avoided because they hurt the sentiments of the people. Curfew was imposed in Bhaderwah as a precautionary measure”.
Protests, shutdown in parts of Kashmir
SRINAGAR: Protests were held in Kashmir and a shutdown was observed in some parts of the city on Friday against the remarks made by two BJP spokespersons that triggered uproar and condemnation in the Islamic world.
Today’s protests and shutdown were spontaneous as no group had called for any strike or protests. Across the city shops and business establishments remained closed, however, traffic was plying on the roads. Additional forces were deployed at several places. Shops and business establishments remained shut on Friday in Srinagar to maintain law and order. While the situation remained peaceful in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley, in many places, protests were taken out to condemn the BJP leaders. Religious leaders condemned the BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her comments against Prophet Mohammad and termed her remarks unacceptable. The Friday congregational prayers at the Jamia Mosque were not allowed today according to the mosque management. Additional forces were deployed around the city’s grand mosque.