Situation tense as curfew continues in 8 police station areas

Jammu, Jul 28 (UNI) Situation was tense but under control in the winter capital city as curfew remained in force in eight 'sensitive' police station areas today after violent clashes between police and people demanding restoration of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

Curfew has not been lifted from Janipur, Bakshi Nagar, Pacca Danga, Domana, Nowabad, Bus Stand, Peer Mitha and City Police station areas of Old City and other sensitive places in Jammu, police control room sources said.

However, despite curfew restrictions security forces were no where in the Parade Ground, the most sensitive area of Old City which witnessed massive clashes yesterday. ''Youths carrying stones and lathis were roaming in the Parade Ground and old city areas, where police-public clashes continued till late night yesterday,'' a UNI correspondent reported.

Life remained crippled here on the fifth consecutive day after the death of a protester Kuldeep Dogra, which rekindled massive agitation in the winter capital on the Amarnath row.

Various political and non-political parties joined under the banner of the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (SAYSS) to continue the agitation against the government decision of revoking the order for diversion of forest land at Baltal (in South Kashmir) to SASB for construction of temporary structures to facilitate Amarnath yatris.

UNI VJ AM RN1329