Jammu: Some incidents of stone-pelting were reported on Wednesday as Jammu city witnessed a near total bandh in protest against alleged desecration of a temple here last night, an issue which resonated in the state Assembly as well.
Fearing a flare-up, the government suspended mobile Internet services and deployed police in strength to maintain law and order. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti appealed for calm, saying, “Jammu and Kashmir is the most secular place” and it should not be “hijacked extremist forces”.
She said some elements were “hell-bent” on creating communal tension in the region but the people of Jammu, irrespective of their religion, must unite and fight the nefarious designs of such forces.
She warned that communal politics in Jammu region could have a disastrous effect as the state was already facing separatism in the Kashmir valley. “Separatism and communalism are the two faces of a same coin and they ultimately divide the society and the country,” she said while addressing a function at Jammu University.
The city on Tuesday night saw protesters setting on fire three vehicles and resorting to stone pelting on police after the alleged desecration of an ancient temple situated in Roop Nagar area apparently by a “mentally disturbed” person.
On Wednesday, a few incidents of stone pelting were reported, barring which the situation across Jammu region remained by and large normal. Even though no political or social organisation had called for bandh, the businessmen and transporters decided to observe a shutdown in protest against the desecration of the temple. Most of the shops and business establishments remained closed whereas traffic remained off the road.
“The situation right now is normal barring a few incidents of protests by local residents. We have deployed adequate number of police personnel,” Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh told PTI.
He said that even as the mobile Internet services have been snapped, no curfew or Section 144 is in force in any part of the city. “The situation does not warrant the imposition of curfew or Section 144 as it would create problems for the masses. The situation is restricted to one place and that too is under control and we are regularly monitoring it,” Singh said.
A huge posse of police personnel, geared with anti-riots equipment, were deployed in the area after protesters had on Tuesday night set three vehicles on fire and resorted to stone pelting on police after the news of the desecration of the temple spread in the city. Earlier in the day, people gathered at the Aap Shamboo temple and performed the “Shudi Karan Puja” there.
Mehbooba said time and again the people of Jammu have showcased their secular credentials and it was evident from the fact that the region gave refuge to people who came there while fleeing from militancy-hit areas. Police said the person accused of desecrating the temple was “mentally unstable” and that he had been arrested.
The issue also resonated in the state Assembly where BJP members created ruckus as soon as the House assembled. “It is matter of serious concern…Some anti-social elements have carried out an anti-social act. Situation in Jammu bad. The government should make a statement,” BJP MLA Ravinder Raina said. National Conference’s Altaf Ahmad Kaloo and Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rasheed also joined in, demanding that the government should ensure safety of Kashmiris in Jammu region.
“Four boys from Pahalgam area have been arrested in Jammu. What is their fault?” Kaloo asked. The BJP members took offence to intervention from Rasheed and Kaloo and exchanged heated words. CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami intervened, saying the entire House should condemn the incident and appeal for maintaining calm and brotherhood.
“Let us not divide this state along communal lines,” he said. Leader of Opposition Omar Abdullah supported Tarigami, saying, “It would have been better if the suggestion had come from the Treasury Benches.” (PTI)
