Hindu terrorism spreads all across jammu

Anti-Muslim violence spreads across Jammu


Curfew extended to Kathua, Samba, Udhampur districts

Jammu, August 11 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, curfew has been extended to Kathua, Udhampur, Samba, Rajouri and Reasi districts following a reign of terror unleashed by Hindu extremists against Muslim population across Jammu.

Officials said that the measure had been taken after anti-Muslim violence erupted in Jammu last evening.

Kishthwar where the violence sparked off soon after the Eid prayers on Friday, is already under curfew for last three days. Two people died and scores injured in the clashes that erupted in the area.

Arson and strong anti-Muslim resentment spread to Jammu and Rajouri late tonight after which curfew was imposed in both the districts.

The authorities have confirmed that situation in Jammu and Rajouri is very tense.
Eyewitnesses said that activists of Hindu extremist organsiations, VHP, BJP and Bajrang Dal, assembled at New Plot, late last evening, and torched at least five shops belonging to the Muslims in the area.

The Hindu extremists roamed the streets across Jammu, Kathua, Samba and Udhampur throughout the day. They fought pitched battles with the police at City Chowk and civil secretariat Jammu area for more than 6 hours.

To support the strike call, given by BJP and other extremist organizations, hundreds of activists assembled at City Chowk.

The extremists attempted to march towards the Muslim majority area of Khantika Talab in the city. The extremists on being stopped resorted to stone pelting and the clash continued for several hours.

Tension gripped Gujjar Nagar locality when a Muslim bus driver ran pleading help from the locals saying his bus was chased by Bajrang Dal extremists carrying swords, draggers and hockey sticks, the eyewitnesses said.

The extremists set a vehicle on fire at Rehari Chowk, while a passenger bus was set ablaze in Kachi Chawni area.

Fearing spread of more violence, in the wake of strike call given by BJP and supported by other Hindu extremist organizations for 72 hours, the administration imposed curfew in the city.

The extremists also set a vehicle on fire on Jammu-Pathankote highway at Vijaypur.

Curfew imposed in Rajouri
Curfew was also imposed in Rajouri township after Muslims of the area took to streets in large number and protested against attack by Hindu extremists on a Madrasa and a Masjid on the outskirts of Rajouri.

The protesters clashed with police when they reached at Jawahar Nagar. The police used baton charge and fired teargas shells on the people. Sensing gravity of situation, the administration immediately imposed curfew in the entire township.

Army also staged flag march at some places.

On Saturday morning, the Hindu extremists, mainly from BJP and Bajrang Dal, blocked the Jammu-Poonch highway and burnt tyres at Sailani bridge, Muradpur, Bathooni, Kallar, Sunderbani, Noushera and other places.

At Sunderbani and Siot, protesters damaged three Tata Sumos ferrying passengers from Poonch to Jammu.

“….three passenger vehicles in Sunderbani were damaged,” a senior police officer said.

Train services disrupted
Rail services were disrupted on Saturday on the Jammu-Pathankot route as the ABVP extremists stopped a train at the Kathua railway station.
The Ahmedabad-bound train from Jammu was stopped for a brief period by the activists at the Kathua station.

Kishtwar tense amid fresh violence

Strict curfew was in place in this mountainous Kishtwar township even as the anti-Muslim violence spread in the remote Padder tehsil of the district, where Village Defence Committee members fired on Muslim youth injuring 4 of them. At least 5 shops were also burnt in the same village, while Muslim were forced to leave Kejai hamlet for safety.

Authorities enforced curfew in the trouble-torn Kishtwar township and shoot at sight order was issued. The curfew was imposed on Friday following large scale anti-Muslim violence, leaving at least one Muslim dead and over 50 injured and property worth millions burnt and damaged.

The Hindu mob torched at least five shops and some vehicles”, locals quoting eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir, over phone.

They said that as police prevented the Hindu mob from marching towards Kajai hamlet, the only Muslim population in the area, some VDC members opened fire on the Muslim villagers injuring four of them. Three of the injured persons were identified as Imtiaz, Altaf Hussain and Mushtaq Ahmed.

Some residential houses were also damaged in the attack.

Police made regular announcements asking people not to come out of their houses in the area.

Muslim burnt alive identified

The man who was burnt alive by a Hindu mob on Friday in the area has been identified as Bashir Ahmed Sheikh of Sangrambata. Locals said that the deceased was handicapped and fell in the hands of the mob which was torching a hotel building owned by a local Muslim.

The locals have taken strong exception to the inability of the authorities to ensure disbanding of VDCs that played a major role in spreading of violence, targeting the Muslim community throughout Jammu.

They also demanded the arrest of a senior Hindu doctor, who fired from his home at least 50 rounds on Muslim youth injuring four of them. “Police arrested him the other day but was released within hours for unknown reasons”, a local resident said.