JKNPP, JPPF call for Jammu bandh tomorrow over NIT issue

Jammu, Apr 6: Several organisations including JKNPP, JPPF and Sri Ram Sena today called for Jammu bandh tomorrow in protest against the alleged police action on outstation students at NIT in Srinagar.

"We unanimously decided to observe complete Bandh in Jammu on April 7," Jammu Province People's Forum (JPPF) Working President M S Katoch told reporters here today. Katoch appealed to all Jammuites to make the call a success in support of outstation students studying in NIT Srinagar.

JPPF, an amalgam of over 50 various social, commercial and other organisations, has strongly criticised the state government for provoking anti-national activities in NIT Srinagar by hurting sentiments of nationalist forces. He alleged the government was hell bent to destroy the peace and communal harmony in the State.

Strongly condemning lathicharge on the outstation students by Jammu and Kashmir police, Katoch demanded security and their protection in the campus. Demanding a judicial probe into the incident and strict action, he said the police entered the campus and brutally beaten and thrashed outstation students, the action will adversely affect the thousands of Kashmiri students studying outside the State as it will create a sense of insecurity among them. Meanwhile Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers party (JKNPP) also announced Jammu bandh tomorrow.

Terming as "inhumane" the lathicharge on students, JKNPP leader Harsh Dev Singh appealed to all Jammuites to unite and come forward to support call for "Jammu Bandh" tomorrow. Singh condemned the ugly episode of clash inside the NIT campus when certain anti-national elements celebrated India's defeat by the Caribbean team in the World T20 Cup match.

Those involved in alleged India bashing, raising pro- Azadi slogans and pelting stones should be booked under sedition charges and other provisions of the Ranbir Penal code, he said. He also criticised J&K police for lathi charge on students and slammed the state government for its failure to provide security to the traumatised students "who have been unlawfully detained and confined within the four walls of the institute campus".

He also expressed solidarity with the parents of the students and sought dismissal of police personnel who were involved in lathi charge. Meanwhile Sri Ram Sena in the state has also announced a one-day Bandh in Jammu tomorrow. "We have called a Bandh on Thursday over the NIT incident which is a shameful act of some anti national elements," its leader Rajiv told reporters here.

PTI