Three more districts of the tense Jammu division came under curfew on Sunday, extending restrictions across eight districts in total after Eid clashes in Kishtwar.
The State Government also declared Kishtwar town out of bounds for political leaders. leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley was detained at the Jammu airport on his arrival with leaders of the State unit.
After Samba, Udhampur, Reasi and parts of Doda also came under curfew. Jaitley was served notice by Jammu Deputy Commissioner Ajeet Sahu, citing imposition of Section 144. While Jaitley returned to Delhi around 4.30 pm, BJP leaders demonstrated outside the main airport gate against the State Government’s “undemocratic” actions.
BJP Rajya Sabha member from Punjab Avinash Rai Khanna, who was to accompany Jaitley to Kishtwar along with State BJP president Jugal Kishore, was also detained as they tried to enter Kathua in the morning. PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti was prevented from leaving her house in Srinagar. Minor clashes broke out on the outskirts of Jammu on Sunday as protesters attempted to defy curfew. The Army patrolled the streets of Old City as some agitated youths burnt tyres and created road blocks. The Army is also deployed along the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway.
A commercial establishment and a Sumo vehicle were burnt by protesters in Domana and Subash Nagar. Stone pelting was reported from Kathua district in the evening. As one of the injured in the Eid clashes succumbed to his injuries, the death toll has risen to three.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also reached Jammu late in the afternoon and chaired a security meeting. He was briefed by the home department and the divisional administration about Kishtwar, Reasi, Rajouri and parts of Jammu in particular. Abdullah also chaired a meeting with prominent citizens of Jammu and appealed for restoration of peace and communal harmony.
later, Principal Secretary (Home) Suresh Kumar, along with DGP Ashok Prasad, addressed a Press conference and announced that curfew restrictions would continue on Monday. The Principal Secretary claimed that only two persons had lost their lives while several others were injured. He said the State Government had initiated action against the rioters and was keeping a watch on social networking sites.
State Congress chief Saifuddin Soz also interacted with Congress Ministers in Jammu and called on the Chief Minister. He demanded a credible inquiry commission and urged Abdullah to announce a package for the victims. The CM is also learnt to have turned down a request for heading a delegation of Congress leaders to Kishtwar.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said not allowing Jaitley into Kishtwar “ shows that the State Government does not want the truth to come out. This is undemocratic,” he tweeted.
“Arun Jaitley has been detained at Jammu airport. This is unfortunate and BJP criticises it strongly,” said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain. Accusing Abdullah of failing to protect minorities, Hussain said, “The Omar Government has failed to handle the situation.”
He pointed out that Jaitley was leader of Opposition and holds a Constitutional post. “What if the Home Minister or Prime Minister wants to visit the areaIJ How can the State Government stop themIJ” he demanded.
The BJP leader said his party had alerted the State Government earlier of the impending situation when leader of Opposition in lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj talked to Abdullah.
“The J&K government is detaining nationalists and allowing anti-nationals to move around freely in the State. The Centre should take cognisance,” Hussain alleged.
EOM