Life returns to normalcy as curfew relaxed in Jammu

Jammu, Aug 11 : Curfew has been relaxed in Jammu following the improvement in situation which erupted after Hindus protested against the revocation of the transfer of Amarnath land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

In Jammu, curfew has been relaxed from 5.30 a.m. upto 4.00 p.m. while the relaxation has been given from 5.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. in Samba and its adjoining areas. In Udhampur, day curfew has been given lifted for five hours from 7.00 a.m.

The curfew in Poonch and Kathua has also been lifted.

Troops are remained pressed into service in all sensitive areas of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Rajauri districts.

They are also keeping eye on the national high way from Pathankor to Banihal and railway tracks from Lakhanpur to Jammu to ensure smooth movement of train traffic and trucks carrying supplies of essential commodities to Kashmir.

On Sunday, an all-party delegation led by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil visited Srinagar to resolve the dispute over the land transfer row. He said that the communal harmony in the state would not be allowed to be disturbed.

The meeting comes a day after leaders of Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti (SASS), spearheading the agitation in Jammu, held their first round of talks with an all party delegation headed by Patil.

No headway was made as the members of the SASS stuck to their demand for restoration of land to Amarnath shrine board and removal of Governor N. N. Vohra.

The unrest, which has gripped the Jammu region for the past five weeks over the issue of land for SASB has taken a toll on everything in Srinagar as well.

Constant shutdowns, highway blockade and curfews in the state have affected the business and normal life in the region.

ANI