Jammu Unrest : 115 policemen injured in 36 days

Jammu, Aug 6 (UNI) At least 115 policemen were injured in 52 major incidents during the past 36 days of unrest in Jammu on the Amarnath land row, an official spokesman today said.

It is only in three cases that is at Muthi, Samba and Jourian , when police had to open fire in self-defence leaving two civilians dead while 45 policemen were injured, including one District SSP, the spokesman said, asserting that police were showing maximum restraint against the protesters.

At Muthi, the Police had to act to rescue the police personnel who were severely beaten after being captured by the mob, the spokesman maintained.

In remaining 49 cases, other mob control measures were taken.

In all, 80 civilians also received injuries during the agitation, the spokesman said.

However, a total of eight people have also lost their lives in various incidents, including five in clashes with security forces, during the ongoing agitation for the restoration of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) at south Kashmir.

At Jourian in Akhnoor yesterday, the violent mob had set on fire Niab Tehsil office, Police Post and some government vehicles.

Whereas a day before at Samba, the police had to fire in self-defence when they were caught among the unruly mob from all sides, the spokesman said.

''There is no effort on the part of the administration to appease any particular section of society or impose any undue restrictions on the peaceful protests to air any point of view in a democratic and peaceful manner,'' he said.

Imposition of curfew, the spokesman said, is an extraordinary measure to restore order.

''It is duty of the government to ensure un-interrupted movement of supplies to all areas of the state to meet immediate requirements of the people,'' he clarified.

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