Curfew re-imposed in Kathua, Poonch peaceful in Jammu

Jammu, Aug 22 (UNI) Following tense situation in Kathua and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir, administration today re-imposed curfew while day long relaxation passed off peacefully in the winter capital, official sources here said.

''After fresh violence erupted yesterday, the day-long curfew relaxation today passed off peacefully here except the Kathua and Poonch districts wherein protestors engaged into clash with the security forces,'' the sources told UNI.

''The police resorted to batoncharge and opened fire to disperse the protestors of majority community, who were demanding the release of some of their associates arrested by the police in tehsil Mandi of Poonch district,'' they added.

At least twelve people including three policemen were wounded during clashes. Some of the injured were admitted to the district hospital while curfew was clamped immediately in Poonch district, sources said.

Meanwhile, curfew was re-imposed in Hiranagar town of Kathua district after protestors attempted to set ablaze Hiranagar Police Post demanding the release of two agitators, who were arrested by the police for pelting stones on trucks on the National Highway, sources maintained.

''A group of protestors took out a rally and on reaching Hiranagar Police Post they tried to set it on afire amid slogans against police and the government,'' a senior police officer told UNI.

''Teargas shells were fired and police resorted to mild lathi-charge to disperse the demonstrators but they set ablaze a worn out seized truck parked outside the police post,'' he asserted.

However, night curfew continued in Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua and Samba districts as a precautionary measure.

''Relaxation period in Jammu and Udhampur districts was today extended from 0500 hours to 2200 hours,'' officials said, adding that the night curfew in both the districts would continue to avoid any untoward incident.

However, in Kishtwar town, the relaxation was given for four and half hours from 0700 hours while in Samba town it was for 11 hours from 0500 hours, officials informed.

The Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, spearheading the agitation, has called for a complete bandh on August 25.

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