Jammu witness fresh violence, 20 injured

Jammu, Aug 25 (UNI) Simmering over Amarnath land row for the last two months, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir today witnessed fresh incidents of violence in various districts wherein around 20 people including policemen were injured.

Police vehicle was torched and curfew was re-imposed in Kathua town while it was continued in Poonch district, official sources here said.

The state administration clamped curfew in entire Kathua town after incidents of stone pelting in which at least 12 people including five policemen were injured, sources added.

''Despite 'Chakka Jam' in entire Jammu region, hundreds of protesters chanting 'Bam-Bam Bhole' marched towards police control room and when stopped, they clashed with police and also pelted stones,'' a senior police officer told UNI.

Sources however, also maintained that agitators also made an attempt to block the Kathua-Lakhanpur National Highway but they were dispersed by police.

''At least 12 people including five policemen suffered injuries when police resorted to baton charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the demonstrators,'' official sources said asserting, ''the administration has announced curfew in the entire town as precautionary measures.'' Meanwhile four people including a senior police officer of also injured in fresh clashes in Digiana area, some 15 kms from here.

''In a battle between police and the protesters, Commandant 8th Battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police and three protesters were seriously wounded on Jammu-Pathankot National Highway at Digiana,'' sources added.

Sources further said in Akhnoor Sector, the protesters pelted stones on police after they entered into clash and also set ablaze the police vehicle.

''Reacting to lathi-charge and tear gas shells in Akhnoor sector, the furious mob set afire a police truck and locked horns with police and security forces in a ding-dong battle in which at least three protesters sustained minor injuries,'' official sources claimed.

Meanwhile no relaxation was given as curfew restrictions remained continue in Poonch district following communal tensions on Saturday evening while the Poonch-Rawalkote bus service across the border, which was started under Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), was also suspended due to the curfew, sources said.

Moreover, the Purani Mandi area in heart of the city also remained tensed as fresh incidents of stone pelting were reported injuring one of the demonstrators.

''Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the agitators but they kept battling with the protesters for more than two hours,'' sources further stated.

The ongoing agitation 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 VBH KK MIR KP2014