Jammu observes total bandh

Jammu, Jan 26 (UNI) Life was thrown out of gear in the city as winter capital observed total bandh amidst scattered protests by saffron brigade against the transfer of 39.88 hectares forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

In a clear sign of how the row on land transfer issue is dividing the militancy-survived state on religious grounds, several political and religious parties of Jammu had called for a bandh against any move to revoke the land transfer as being demanded by political parties in Kashmir.

All the shops and business establishments remained closed and private transport vehicles off the roads in support of bandh call.

People joined by the BJP, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal rallied at several places in the city to ensure a complete bandh.

They also burnt the effigies of PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Deputy Chief Minister M H Beig in city and outskirts.

The people at Udhampur also blocked Jammu-Srinagar national highway for a while as entire district observed complete bandh, sources said.

Similar reports were received from other towns of Jammu.

The tourists, including the Amarnath yatris and Mata Vaishnodevi pilgrims, experienced inconvenience due to the unavailability of passenger vehicles in the city.

However, the situation in Jammu was by and large peaceful, police said.

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