Curfew clamped in ''tense'' Poonch district

Jammu, Aug 24 (UNI) Following communal tension in the Poonch district of Jammu region, the administration today clamped curfew in the area for precautionary measures, official sources here said.

''The clashes that broke out between people of two groups took a violent turn and authorities had to call out the Army and the curfew has been imposed,'' a senior police official told UNI.

Some miscreants set on fire 40 shops in Poonch city and damaged 20 others.

''During clashes, about a dozen police personnel and some civilians also got injured while two companies of CRPF have been air-lifted to the district to pacify the situation,'' police sources added.

Meanwhile, there was no relaxation in curfew in Hira Nagar area of Kathua district where it was imposed when protestors attempted to set ablaze police post while the situation was improving, police said.

The Jammu agitation has entered the 56th day, witnessing complete shutdown for the consecutive 33rd day, demanding restoration of 40 hectares of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

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