Jammu bandh call fizzles out

A bandh called by the National Panthers Party in Jammu, to protest against the recommendation relating to autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir made by prime minister's Working Group, today fizzled out with shops and business establishments remaining open amid heavy security.

Shops and business establishments opened and vehicles plied in the city, a police control room spokesman said.

Raising slogans against the Working Group recommendations, Panthers Party activists tried to disrupt traffic and force closure of shops in Satwari, Gandhi Nagar and in old city areas but were stopped by the police.

"No untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the city. The police is keeping vigil in all areas," he said.

National Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh told reporters here that the recommendations made by the Working Group are anti-people, fraud, trash and biased. "It should be dumped into dustbin without any further discussion," he said.

The group also said a call needed to be taken on how long Article 370 of the Constitution in its present form granting special status for Jammu and Kashmir should remain in force.