People defy curfew, stage protests in Jammu

Jammu, Jul 6 (UNI) Defying curfew restrictions, thousands of people took to the streets in the winter capital today to protest against the controversial decision of revoking the order of diverting forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

A large numbers of protesters, including women, gathered in the Muthi, Bantbal, Mandal, Gangyal and Bari Brahmana areas on the city outskirts and staged a demonstration, sources said.

''A large demonstration, led by Saffron activists, was attempting to enter city limits from the Jammu-Poonch state highway,'' a motorcyclist told UNI.

Similarly, reports said several protesters were injured when police resorted to baton charge in the Gangyal area of Southren Jammu.

Civil authorities today relaxed curfew for two hours in the morning to help people purchase essential commodities despite the saffron-sponsored bandh against the government decision.

Life in Jammu province came to a grinding halt with the entire region, including remote villages, observing bandh since Tuesday.

Even small markets, business establishments, shops and vehicular movement were closed in the remote areas of the districts to lodge protest against the government decision, sources said.

Emergency services staff, including health, fire and police, commuters heading towards railway station or airport and media people were allowed to move through the deserted city routes.

Protests against the government decision, which was earlier confined to the Jammu city, has spread to the rural areas.

The leadership of Jammu region alleged that the state government had ''bowed to the Kashmiri leadership'' and revoked the forest land transfer.

The bandh and successive curfew has multiplied the problem of common masses as they have started facing shortage of essential commodities.

Amarnath and Mata Vaishnodevi yatris were subjected to many problems due to the curfew and strike in Jammu.

UNI VJ SV RN1502