Curfew re-imposed in Kathua town

Jammu, Aug 25: Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday, Aug 25 re-imposed curfew in entire Kathua town after fresh incidents of violence and stone pelting in which at least 12 people, including five policemen, were injured, official sources said. ''Despite 'chakka jam' in Jammu region, hundreds of protesters chanting 'bam-bam bhole' and shouting slogans against the government and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), took to the streets and marched towards police control room,'' a senior police official told UNI.

On being stopped from heading towards an official building, the agitators clashed with police and also pelted stones while sources further maintained that they also made an attempt to block the Kathua-Lakhanpur National Highway but they were dispersed by police.

''Police resorted to baton charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse them in which at least 12 people including five policemen suffered injuries,'' official sources said asserting, ''the administration has announced curfew in the entire town as precautionary measures.'' Meanwhile, three people including a senior police officer also injured in fresh clashes between the protesters and the security forces in Digiana area, some 15 kms from here.

Earlier in the morning, Commandant of 8th Battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police and two protesters were seriously wounded in a clash between police and the protesters on Jammu-Pathankot National Highway at Digiana.

The ongoing agitation in the state has entered into the 56th day with Jammu bandh for the consecutive 34th day while the entire region is observing complete 'chakka jam' on the call given by the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS), a conglomerate of 45 religious, political and social organiSations, spearheading the agitation demanding restoration of land back to the Shrine Board.

UNI