6-hour curfew relaxation passes off peacefully in Jammu

Jammu, Aug 7 (UNI) The six-hour curfew relaxation ordered by the district administration passed off peacefully in Jammu city, official sources here said.

''Earlier the relaxation was announced for four hours from 0500 hrs to 0900 on the order of the District Magistrate, which was later extended for two hours from 0900 hrs to 1100 hrs,'' sources told UNI.

The shops however, opened early morning and witnessed a heavy rush as people hurried to purchase essential commodities and visited the places of their relatives.

''The shops selling milk products and the general stores observed heavy rush while the vegetable vendors remained surrounded by the customers,'' an eyewitness told UNI.

As the Jammu bandh entered the 13th consecutive day, the shopkeepers are facing an acute shortage of food items including flour, wheat, rice and pulses.

''No matter the relaxation is for four or six hours but due to limited money, we are not able to purchase the required essential items,'' Suresh Kumar, a government employee asserted saying, ''the funds are lying with the banks, which are closed due to the bandh and the ATMs are also not operating.'' The agitation has entered the 38th day as the Jammu region is demanding restoration of land to the Shrine Board.

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