Life paralysed but protests continue in Jammu

Jammu, Jul 5 (UNI) Normal life remained paralysed on the fifth day of curfew in the winter capital city even as demonstrations against the revocation of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board land transfer order continued on the city outskirts.

The administration again relaxed curfew restrictions in select police station areas here this evening.

''Curfew will be relaxed for an hour from 1830 hrs in old city areas, including bus stand, Pacca Danga, Nawabad and Panjtirthi, and from 1900 hrs to 2030 hrs in Gandhi Nagar, Trikuta Nagar and Bagh-e-Bahu police station areas of south Jammu,'' an official spokesman said.

However, no relaxation was given in Bakshi nagar, Janipur and Satwari police station areas, where curfew was relaxed for an hour yesterday.

Curfew was also relaxed for half-an-hour in Bhaderwah town of Doda. ''Apart from sporadic protest demonstrations, the part wise relaxation in Bhaderwah went of peacefully,'' reports said.

The administration was observing the situation periodically.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel conducted flag march throughout the city to ensure peace.

Defying curfew orders, people at many places in the city outskirts came out on streets and staged protests.

According to reports, people attempted to take out protest rallies at Bantlab, Nagrota and Bari Brahmana area in the city outskirts but were dispersed by the police forces.

As soon as the relaxation was announced, vehicles started plying on the roads, while some of the shutters in these localities went up for the people to purchase essential commodities.

Meanwhile, people were seen rushing towards shops at some places to purchase essential commodities, while many were waiting in long queues for petrol and diesel at filling stations.

No relaxation in curfew was given in southern towns of Kathua and Samba.

More UNI VJ SKB CS1828