Curfew continues in Mendhar border town

Curfew remained in force in violence-hit Mendhar town of Poonch district for the seventh day today, while it was lifted in Poonch border town after the situation improved.

Curfew was imposed in Mendhar town last week after three persons were killed in police firing to quell a mob trying to set ablaze a missionary school while protesting the alleged desecration of a holy book in the US.

In Poonch, curfew was imposed after arson and violent protests against the alleged desecration last week.

"Curfew is continuing in Mendhar border town. But it has been lifted in Poonch town completely as law and order situation has shown improvement", police officials said today.

Curfew was relaxed for 2 hours in Mendhar town last evening, which passed off peacefully.

"The law and order situation is peaceful in Mendhar and Poonch. Adequate security has been deployed in the sensitive areas of the district", District Development commissioner, Jammu, Kuldeep Khajuria, who reviewed the security situation, said.

"We have decided to set up peace committees in order to maintain communal harmony, peace and law and order in view of violent protests", he said.

District Poonch has been divided into 26 zones and all these zones will have peace committee comprising prominent citizens, religious persons and people of various faiths and walks of life with a government official deputed for liaison, he said.