Minority attacked after ‘Pakistan sponsored' postersIJ
One civilian was killed and over three dozen others were injured during the day-long violence following Eid prayers in Kishtwar district on Friday.
Clueless district administration clamped curfew in the violence hit areas, but failed to effectively implement it for over six hours in the absence of adequate force.
In a late night development, the State Government shunted Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police. Basheer Khan has been appointed as new DC and Sanjay Kotwal as new district SP
To contain the worsening law and order situation, the State Government was forced to seek the help of the Army. But as the State Government wasted crucial time in understanding the situation, it delayed the arrival of the Army column.
According to reports from ground zero, the Army had to wait for over three to four hours before receiving the written orders. Finally, the Army conducted the flag march around 7.15 pm in the violence-hit areas and the deteriorating law and order situation was brought under control.
After the Eid prayers, a procession of worshipers reached near Kuleed mohalla, where members of the minority community live. Some miscreants in the procession, who carried Pakistani flags and banners, pelted stones on the members of the minority community. Within no time the procession turned violent and started attacking commercial establishments of the minority community. As per sources, 95 per cent of commercial establishments were torched.
As per another version, a member of the minority community was roughed up by the members of the majority community after the Eid prayers near Kuleed mohalla. As locals intervened, the situation took an ugly turn, and members from both the communities started pelting stone on one another. Interestingly, till late evening, the State Government was totally clueless about the cause of violence.
Before the curfew was clamped around 1.00 pm, the rioters had a free run as they set on fire over 100 commercial establishments belonging to the minority community. Over two dozen vehicles parked on the streets were also torched by the rampaging mob. The rioters also looted guns from a shop and fired randomly in air. The police and other security forces were outnumbered by the rioters through out the day.
According to locals, business establishments in Amar market, bus stand, near Deputy Commissioner office, police station crossing and Shahidi market were torched.
However, the Divisional Administration informed that on August 9 morning, some anti-social elements picked up a fight in Kishtwar which turned violent and caused further disturbance to the large gathering on the occasion of Eid festival.
Scared members of the minority community, especially women and children, then gathered at one place in large number to escape the mob fury. Meanwhile, announcements were made from the religious places to gather in large number to protect themselves.
A few houses adjoining these shops, a famous hotel, gas agency office and petrol pump were also ransacked and torched by the mob. They also attacked security forces in the area.
J&K Home Minister Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, who was present in the district headquarters himself ran for cover when angry protestors attacked Dak Bunglow in Kishtwar.
late on Friday evening, the State Government hurriedly called an all-party meeting to discuss the situation. Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Congress Ministers Raman Bhalla, Sham lal Sharma and Provincial president of the National Conference DS Rana, along with Jammu Divisional Commissioner Shant Manu attended the meeting. Divisional Commissioner claimed that one civilian, identified as Arvind Bhagat, was killed and 12 others were injured in the incidents of violence. Four critically wounded persons were shifted to the military hospital in Udhampur, he added.
The State unit of the BJP has given a call for Jammu bandh against the incidents of violence and failure of the Government to ensure safety of minorities in Kishtwar. BJP State president Jugal Kishore Sharma said that once again the NC-Congress coalition has given free hand to the members of majority community to harass, terrorise, kill and damage properties of minorities there.