Fresh clashes in Jammu region; LoC firing on

Mangaloretoday/DHNS

Srinagar, August 13, 2013: Several districts of violence-hit Jammu region continued to reel under curfew for the third consecutive day on Tuesday with fresh protests erupting against arrests in connection with the Kishtwar communal strife.

Reports said protesters burnt tyres and raised anti-government slogans in Jammu, Aknoor, Ramnagar and Samba towns.

 

Jammu and Kashmir Director-General Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad said in a few areas protests erupted after police arrested some people who were involved in the clashes. “We have to do the arrests and people will protest against that. We will not stop our investigations because of the fear of protests,” he said.

Prasad said that situation remained near normal on Tuesday, “We are trying our best to ensure that curfew is relaxed.”  he said. The DGP said more than 120 arrests have been made in various areas of Jammu division in the last few days. “We have to work for long term peace and catch hold of all the miscreants,” he added.

He said restrictions will remain imposed till August 15 depending on the circumstances and the public response in different areas. However, Amarnath yatra resumed on Tuesday from Jammu after three days of suspension with a fresh batch of 225 pilgrims leaving for cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas amid tight security.

Unprovoked firing

Meanwhile,  Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing by targeting Indian forward posts on the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district and the International Border (IB) in the Ramgarh sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.

Jammu-based Public Relations Officer (Defence) S N Acharya, told Deccan Herald that ceasefire violation in Mendhar battalion area of Poonch started from 9:20 pm on Monday.  “Pakistani troops also targeted Hamirpur, south of Mendhar and the Balakot sector of Mendhar at 10:15 pm last night (Monday night) with small arms, light automatics, MMG and mortars,” he said.

Acharya said that firing continued throughout the night at Mendhar battalion and Hamirpur.

“Our troops retaliated and the firing stopped at six in the morning,” he said and added that no damage or injury had been reported so far.