Curfew continues in Rajouri for 3rd day after clashes

Jammu, July 23: Curfew continued in Rajouri town of Jammu region on Thursday for the third day after it was relaxed for two hours on Wednesday evening, police said.

Sporadic clashes had erupted in parts of Rajouri during the curfew relaxation period on Wednesday after which it was re-imposed, said police.

"Curfew continues in the town today. A decision on relaxation will be taken after reviewing the situation in the afternoon," a senior police officer told IANS in Jammu.

The officer said that senior citizens and community leaders had met on Wednesday in the town to defuse tensions.

Members of the Muslim community in the town have demanded release of 20 people arrested by police here.

They claimed that some of the arrested include minors.

Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Zulfiqar Chowdhary visited Rajouri on Wednesday and met officials to ensure return of normalcy.

Tension had gripped Rajouri after members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) burnt the flag of the ultra radical Islamist group ISIS here on Eid.

Muslims in the town took exception to this saying the flag carried verses of the Holy Scripture written on it.

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said there is nothing wrong in burning flag belonging to a terrorist group but added that those behind it did not know about the flag carrying verses from the Islamic Holy scripture.

IANS