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Jammu peaceful; curfew relaxed in Chenab valley
KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 8/8/2019 11:57:13 AM
DySP, cops hurt in stone-pelting in Poonch
JAMMU, Aug 7: Situation across Jammu region remained peaceful for third consecutive day today amidst restrictions imposed in all 10 districts in anticipation of trouble following abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A.
In the meanwhile, curfew was relaxed for four hours in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts except Banihal though night deployment was intensified in Kishtwar and Rajouri districts. All educational institutions across the province remained closed and public transport too remained off the roads for the straight third day.
However in a minor incident on Tuesday, a Deputy Superintendent of Police Operations, Poonch and two other cops were injured when the protesting youth turned violent during protests over revocation of Article 370 at Bafliaz in Surankote area of district Poonch.
As per reports, few people came out protesting against revocation of Art 370 and 35-A by the union government, raised anti-India slogans. The protesting youth turned violent and resorted to stone pelting. The youth later dispersed but DySP Operation Bhisham Dubey and two cops sustained minor injuries in the stone-pelting.
Officials told that situation across Jammu province today by and large remained normal during the day with no untoward incident reported from any part of the region amidst deployment of large number of para-military troops and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) in sensitive areas.
The authorities have decided to go ahead with restrictions for few more days before lifting them as they want to be sure that normal conditions prevail especially in five sensitive districts of Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch. Restrictions were more stringent during night in Kishtwar and Rajouri districts, they said.
In Jammu, Kathua, Reasi, Samba districts markets in some areas also opened in the evening indicating semblance to normalcy though at a slow pace. Reasi DC Indu Kanwal Chib stated that banks and government offices would function normally tomorrow.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Sanjeev Verma and Inspector General of Police Jammu, Mukesh Singh were monitoring the situation in the region.
“All educational institutions including schools and colleges, both government and private, will remain closed tomorrow in the entire region as a precautionary measures,” official said. Educational institutions were closed since Monday in the entire region.
Jammu University also announced postponement of M Phil/PhD entrance examinations and all UG/PG exams scheduled to be held on August 7. Fresh dates will be notified shortly, a University spokesman said. The JU will also remain closed tomorrow.
Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Sushma Chauhan further relaxed the restrictions for officials, staff and Assistants of BSNL, J&K Bank and their ATM Vans and all government employees posted within the Jammu district.
Commercial traffic on National Highways and all other major roads remained suspended while private vehicles were seen plying on the city and other roads. People had to walk to reach Bus Stands, Railway Station, Airports and other destinations as authorities didn’t allow auto rickshaws to move even as there was no curfew in the city and outskirts.
Situation in all other districts of Jammu region was also peaceful with no major report of any untoward incident reported from any part. The Rapid Action Force (RAF), para-military forces and police remained deployed in strength in all 10 districts of Jammu region.
Sources said the army personnel were also deployed in sensitive localities of the city as a precautionary measure. Six columns of the Army’s Tiger Division were deployed in Jammu for aid to civil authorities in maintaining law and order, officials said.
The situation across Jammu region is well under control and there was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere, the officer said, adding para-military forces and police, however, remained on high alert.
Police, assisted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), were deployed across the Jammu region early on Monday and are strictly implementing the prohibitory orders issued by the Deputy Commissioners, who also ordered closure of all educational institutions.
The roads wore a deserted look with shops and business shut as some of the roads were closed with barbed wire.
People with emergencies are being allowed to move after proper checking and frisking. Mobile Internet services were also snapped across Jammu region last night and remained suspended today as well, the officials said, adding that in some of the districts mobile calling services have also been affected.
Authorities had imposed restrictions in entire Jammu region on Sunday night in anticipation of a big announcement by the Central Government in Jammu and Kashmir, which was made by Home Minister Amit Shah in the Parliament yesterday. As many as 40 companies of CRPF have been deployed in all districts of Jammu region, an official said, adding that in Jammu six companies have been positioned, Samba—two, Kathua—two, Udhampur—four, Reasi—one, Rajouri—eight, Poonch—six and Doda–11 CRPF companies. The army has also been deployed in various parts of the district.
“Mobile Internet has also been snapped in the region, while restrictions are imposed as precautionary measure to prevent rumour mongering,” they added.
Moreover, all examinations of different schools and University of Jammu have also been postponed till further orders and fresh dates will be announced later, said an order.
In the meanwhile, fake messages concerning land and property sales in Kashmir have been making the rounds on social networking platforms. Netizens have warned each other from falling prey to such messages. The scrapping of Article 35A, which debarred non-residents from buying properties in J&K, is likely it open the doors for non-Kashmiris to invest in immovable property within the proposed Union Territory.
As a result of the provisions in Article 370, Indian citizens from other states were barred from purchasing land or property in Jammu and Kashmir. Messages offering people to "book land in Kashmir -- at Laal Chowk Road at a starting price of Rs 11.25 lakh with GST" also claimed that the "offer is valid for only a limited period." Such messages are also coming with a contact number -- 9019292918 -- which when you dial, rings twice before an automated assistant puts you on hold before dicsonnecting your call.
Many alert netizens took to Twitter to point out that such messages were merely scams. "Article 370: Don't Believe Messages On Buying Land In Kashmir, As They May Be A Scam," a tweet read. "All those shouting on Twitter about buying land in Jammu and Kashmir, let's see how many of them turn up," another tweet said.
Another fake message being circulated on WhatsApp asks users to visit a website -- www.property.sale -- which also turned out to be a fake address. “I strongly condemn to these words like buying land, in laws home in kashmir etc. Certainly these type of words not unite us with Kashmiri brothers and sisters but it will play role of repellent in their mind. #Article370 #JammuAndKashmi," wrote another user. Netizens are criticising all forms of mockery floating on social media. "This is ridiculous. How can people be so insensitive about such a tensed issue. At a time when people staying there are fearing for their safety, how can people sit and forward fake messages on property sale and purchases. Newer levels of inhumanity and insensitivity," a user tweeted.