4 killed in Indore: VHP-BJP bandh evokes mixed response

New Delhi/Indore, Jul 3 (UNI) Four people were killed and more than 23, including ten police personnel, injured in communal clashes in Indore today between VHP-sponsored Bharat Bandh] supporters and those opposing the agitation over the Amarnath land allotment issue while the stir evoked from a mixed to partial response in different parts of the country.

Curfew was clamped in sensitive Pandrinath, Chhatripura, Khajrana and Malharganj even as personnel opened fire and used other forms of force.

Official sources said stone-pelting hurt more than 23 people.

In state capital Bhopal, shops and main markets remained closed.

Skeleton city bus services were maintained in the morning.

Government and corporate offices functioned as usual though educational institutions were kept closed.

More than 100 workers of Hindu outfits, who were enforcing bandh, were arrested in Jabalpur district of the state.

The bandh called to protest the revocation of the land allotment to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) in Jammu and Kashmir evoked mixed to partial response throughout the country, reports from state capitals said.

Claiming the bandh as a major success, the VHP said the country-wide positive response has shown that the entire nation opposed the appeasement policies of the Congress, specially when it came to matters of faith.

Meanwhile, Communist party of India (M), Jammu, secretary Mohammad Yousuf Targami made an appeal in Srinagar to the people of Jammu to maintain peace and communal harmony at all costs.

In Mumbai.... EDS: here picking up from Line 1, para 9 of DI 37/DR 50 'AGITATION-VHP-BHARAT BANDH'.

UNI Team SB RK2030