Life at complete standstill as Jammu observes 'chakka jam'

Jammu, Aug 25 (UNI) Complete 'chakka jam' today put the already paralysed life in Jammu to a standstill as people blocked several roads in the city and its outskirts, forcing police action at several places to get the passage cleared for military buses.

In response to the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti's (SAYSS) call for observing 'chakka jam', no vehicular movement was allowed on the roads as people gathered on roads at various places blocking the road transport.

Neither public nor private vehicles -- scooters, motorcycles and cars -- were seen on the roads.

The agitators, however, cleared the roads for mediapersons and emergency services after thoroughly checking their identities.

Markets remained closed on the 32nd consecutive day today, including chemists and druggists' shops, who closed thier shops in Jammu to show solidarity with the SAYSS cause.

Several children were injured when teargas shells fired by the police hit some houses in Digana area. ''Police resorted to teargas shelling to disperse the mob at Digiana,'' an official source said.

Similar reports were received from several parts of the city today, after a day of relative peace in Jammu.

The SAYSS, which is holding a dialogue process with the Government to find out an amicable solution to the Amarnath land row, has also extended the bandh call till August 31.

There was no day curfew in the Jammu region except in the bordering Poonch city, where communal clashes were reported yesterday.

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