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Curfew continues in Jammu for 4th day; situation improves

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 2/19/2019 1:16:13 PM

# Relaxation in parts of Jammu South # Civil Sectt wears deserted look

JAMMU, Feb 18: Indefinite curfew for the fourth consecutive day on Monday continued to be in force in Jammu, except few parts of South Jammu, where relaxation was given after considerable improvement in the situation with no untoward incident in past 24 hours.
However, in the wake of curfew restrictions in majority parts of the city and its outskirts and boycott call of Move employees citing security concerns, the Civil Secretariat wore a deserted look today. Although the District magistrate had announced to treat official identity cards of Civil Secretariat employees, air tickets, railway tickets, admit cards for various exams as curfew passes.
Though, the situation in entire Jammu city and outskirts remained completely peaceful yet the curfew was relaxed for three hours i.e., from 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM, only in the parts of Jammu South. As per the order of the District Magistrate the relaxation was given in areas falling under Police Stations of Gandhi Nagar, Channi Himmat, Sainik Colony, Trikuta Nagar and Satwari. Later this relaxation was increased by two more hours as the situation remained peaceful.
However, there was no relaxation in Narwal, Bhatindi, Bagh-e-Bahu, Digiana, Belicharana, Gangyal and Ware House areas of Jammu South.
Army, however, continued to dominate sensitive locations, including Gujjar Nagar, where it also staged flag-march.
The complaints, however, continued to pour in against the police personnel from Jammu And Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP) for not honouring curfew passes, thus leading to verbal duels. One such incident duel was witnessed between media persons and JKAP petsonnel near City Square after the latter did not allow the media persons to move despite having possessed the curfew passes issued by DM. The police cops refused to return the curfew passes even. Later, they were forced to after protest by media persons.
A minor protest amidst heckling by people was witnessed at Talab Khatikan with PDP MLC Firdous Tak at the receiving end. The incident occurred when he had gone to ask about the well being of stranded people from Kashmir, Kishtwar and other areas. People protested questioning the absence of PDP and its leaders when they faced arson and violence three days ago.
As the curfew relaxed for three hours in parts of South Jammu, the people rushed to shops to purchase essential commodities while long queues were witnessed at filling stations and Automatic Teller Machines. The messages regarding relaxation were flashed on the news channel and people rushed to the market to purchase essential items.

In the Civil Secretariat, the offices wore a deserted look as majority of the employees and the administrative secretaries were found absent from duty.
Two Advisors to Governor K Vijay Kumar and K K Sharma and less than half a dozen administrative secretaries including RK Goyal and Atal Duloo were only among the few top officials present at the civil secretariat. President Secretariat Employees Union Ghulam Rasool Mir had asked the government to ensure immediate safety or security of the employees or give them a free passage to Kashmir for the safety of their lives.
Many state government employees on Sunday evening had left for Srinagar in three buses.
In the meanwhile, the University of Jammu announced the postponement of all the examinations (Theory & Practical) to be conducted on February 19, 2019 (Tuesday) due to unavoidable circumstances. Fresh dates shall be notified later on.
With regard to situation, the District Development Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar stated that the situation was absolutely under control and decision about relaxation in other parts of the city would be taken after situation assessment tomorrow.
All examinations, scheduled for the day, were postponed as educational institutions across Jammu city remained closed. He said the situation was “well under control” and there was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the curfew-bound areas since Sunday.
“Police, paramilitary forces and army soldiers stand deployed and are strictly enforcing the curfew,” Kumar said. Mobile internet services continued to remain affected as a precautionary measure to check spread of rumours but BSNL broadband services are functioning normally.