Jobless engilneers throw life out of gear in Jammu

Jammu, July 3 (UNI) Life in this winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir was completely paralysed today due to the bandh call given by the jobless engineers, who were demanding adjustment under Rehbar-e-Tamirat scheme on the pattern of Rehbar-e-Taleem for teachers.

Thousands of agitating engineers descended on the city roads before dawn and blocked Delhi-Jammu national highway and other local routes by putting rubber tyres on afire.

''No inter-state or intra-state buses were allowed to enter the city because the protesters had blocked highway at Satwari chowk this morning,'' police sources said.

The agitators turned violent at Bikram Chowk near the Tawi bridge and damaged several vehicles. The police resorted to lathi-charge in which at least six engineers were injured, sources said.

Several groups of Jobless engineers took out processions in Jammu city and outskirts.

Public trainsport remained off the road while shops and other business establishments were closed for the day.

Talking to UNI over phone. All Jammu and Kashmir Uemployed Engineers' Association president Rajinder Kumar Sharma said the agitation was the result of government apathy towards these jobless youth, who were prosesting for the last 90 days.

''No government representative has come forward to help us,'' '' he said.

Several political parties, including the BJP, Jammu and Kashmir National PLanthers Party (JKNPP), National Conference (NC), Shiv Sena( Thackeray) Shiv Sena (Hindustan), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and student associations were supporting the agitation, Mr Sharma claimed.

UNI