Normal life was disrupted in many parts ofJammu during complete shutdown on Saturday in response to the day-long bandh called by the Chamber of Commerce and Industries seeking suspension of toll plaza at Sarore and installation of Smart Electricity meters.
The bandh call was supported by the members of the Bar Association,Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Jammu wing and several other political parties and socio-political organisations.
BJP’s stronghold in Jammu witnessed complete shutdown much to the chagrin of the senior party leaders.
The lawyers too abstained from work in all the courts including Tribunals, all Revenue courts, commissions and Forums.
Members of the Bar Association, Jammu also took out a protest march and disrupted the traffic over Tawi bridge in Jammu while demanding immediate suspension of toll plaza at Sarore.
Similar protest demonstrations were organised by lawyers in Udhampur, Samba and Kathua in support of the bandh call. In Jammu, members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries also raised slogans during a protest outside the chamber office in Jammu.
Since morning the city markets wore a deserted look barring a few localities where shopkeepers refused to down their shutters. Some of the city schools remained open while public transport was seen plying smoothly during the bandh call.
According to police, no major untoward incident took place during the bandh. Elaborate security arrangements were made across Jammu to maintain law and order at vulnerable places.
In protests in many parts of the division, including Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur and Rajouri districts, people also demanded the unconditional release of some Yuva Rajput Sabha (YRS) members, who were detained on Monday during a demonstration for the removal of the toll plaza at Sarore in Samba. They were accused of violating restrictions imposed around the toll plaza.
Activists of Yuva Rajput Sabha and supporters of different political parties took out street protests at various locations in and around Jammu in support of the bandh call.
Before the call for Jammu bandh was given all out efforts were made by the Union Territory administration to pacify the agitating members to withdraw the bandh call as they were expecting a high level team of the National Highway Authority of India to visit Jammu-Pathankot National Highway for a first hand assessment before taking a final call in the matter.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had also taken up the matter with the NHAI authorities for early redressal of the issue. Meanwhile, a delegation of BJP leaders met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari seeking his intervention in the matter to resolve the issue. of Sarore Toll plaza.
Reacting to the peaceful bandh during the day, CCI ,Jammu President Arun Gupta said,”It is a symbolic strike to raise the genuine demands of the public. The Lt Governor-led administration should pay heed to the issues concerning the common people and try to resolve the same.
