Jammu boils as protestors defy prohibitory orders; cop stabbed

Situation in Jammu was "tense" on Friday as people belonging to the Sikh community defied prohibitory orders and held protests in several areas as part of a three-day protest, which is spreading and saw one more policeman being stabbed and his AK rifle taken away.

Protests were staged in Kashmir, besides Poonch, Rajouri and other parts of the Jammu region over the death of a youth in clashes that erupted in Jammu on Thursday, after hundreds of Sikhs blocked roads and pelted stones at policemen over the removal of Khalistani militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's posters.

In Jammu, protests were staged in <g data-gr-id="91">Digiana</g>, Gangyal, Canal, <g data-gr-id="92">Tallab</g> Tilloo, <g data-gr-id="93">Rehari</g>, <g data-gr-id="94">Bakshinagar</g>, Narwal and Gole Gujral areas. Protestors also blocked the Jammu-Pathakote highway and burnt tyres. Streets wore a deserted look and business establishments remained closed. Mobile and internet services were also suspended in Jammu. Schools and colleges are closed on Saturday.

Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in sensitive areas of Jammu, where authorities said the situation was "tense but under control".

The Army staged a flag march in parts of Jammu, following clashes, late Thursday night. Authorities had clamped Section 144 of the CrPC, which bars gathering of more than four persons at a place, in Jammu and <g data-gr-id="85">curfew-like</g> situation prevailed in violence-hit areas of Satwari-Ranibagh-Gadigarh-RS Pura belt and elsewhere.

Meanwhile, some protestors allegedly stabbed a policeman and fled with his AK rifle in the Gangyal area of Jammu late Thursday night, said <g data-gr-id="80">Mohmmad</g> Rafiq, sub-divisional police officer, Jammu East. Constable Joginder Pal, personal security officer (PSO) of DSP (Jammu East) Mohammad Rafiq, was shifted to the GMC Hospital. His condition has improved, police said.

"We have recovered the AK rifle from some people and a case has been registered. Arrests will also be made," Rafiq said.

This was the second such incident, after Wednesday when a <g data-gr-id="54">sikh</g> protester carrying a sharp-edged weapon stabbed sub-inspector Arun Kumar. His condition is stated to stable in GMC hospital. 

A bandh was observed in <g data-gr-id="60">Poonch</g> town of Jammu region, where leaders belonging to all religions staged a protest and called for the maintaining <g data-gr-id="56">clam</g>. They condemned the death of <g data-gr-id="58">man</g> in police firing.

Protests and dharnas were also held in Rajouri, Rajbhagh, <g data-gr-id="81">Hatli</g> <g data-gr-id="82">Morh</g> and <g data-gr-id="83">Lakhipur</g> on Jammu-<g data-gr-id="84">Pathnakote</g> in Kathua district and Udhampur, reports said, adding that traffic was disrupted on the highway for 2-3 hours.

Members of the community held protests at various places in Kashmir too, alleging "high-handedness" of police and raised slogans against the government. Protests were held at Press Colony and Amira Kadal near Lal Chowk here, officials said. Similar protests were held in Baramulla in north Kashmir and Awantipora in <g data-gr-id="72">south</g>, police said, adding the <g data-gr-id="74">protestors</g> temporarily blocked the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Awantipora.

Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, in a letter to the state government, condemned the police action regarding the removal of a hoarding carrying the photograph of Jarnail Singh <g data-gr-id="90">Bhindrawale</g> and accused the police of mishandling the situation and allowing it to go out of control. It has demanded suspension of SSP Jammu Uttam Chand and SHO Satwari Kulvir Singh.

Jagjit Singh was killed on Thursday and seven others, including policemen, were injured in clashes between police and a large group of <g data-gr-id="67">sikhs</g> who blocked roads in Jammu. The condition of the three policemen has been described as critical by doctors, police said.

The Chief Minister and his deputy Nirmal Singh have appealed for peace.

Expressing sorrow over the loss of human life, Sayeed had said while it is the responsibility of the police to maintain law and order, at the same time Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) should be strictly adhered to avoid such tragedies during public protests.

Singh voiced confidence that things will be controlled "within a short span of time" and said talks 

were being held with community leaders. He said an investigation was being conducted into the youth's killing and the guilty would be punished. "It is unfortunate that this situation has emerged in Jammu and in a particular area. The administration is on the job and we are meeting the people there, the leaders of the community and we hope that the situation shall be brought under control," he said.