Jammu bandh hits normal life, curfew continues in Poonch

Jammu, Aug 30 (UNI) The normal life in the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir has come to a standstill as the town observed complete shut down for the 39th consecutive day supporting the ongoing agitation demanding restoration of land to the sasb.

Meanwhile, life in other parts of the region was also affected due to the bandh while curfew relaxation in the Poonch town from 0500 hrs to 1400 hrs passed off peacefully, official sources here today said.

''The life in Poonch remained normal throughout the relaxation while no fresh violence related incident has been reported,'' police sources said and added that rallies and programmes are being organised in the town to maintain communal harmony.

Curfew was imposed in Poonch following communal tension due to the ongoing Amarnath land row while at today it entered the eighth day in bordering town.

Protest rallies were also taken out in Rajouri, Udhampur and Kathua districts while night curfew continued as a precautionary measure in Kishtwar.

However, in Samba the day curfew has been lifted but Section 144 CrPc continues in the town and its duration has been extended till September ending.

Normal life remained paralysed in the Jammu with banks, educational institutions, shops, markets observing complete closure while no commercial vehicle is plying on the roads.

The protests sparked in Jammu after the government revoked an order transferring land to the Sasb on July 1.

The agitation was intensified under the banner of Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS), a conglomerate of 45 religious, social and political organisations, spearheading the two-month long agitation.

UNI VBH SV RK1935