Rajouri in Jammu still tense, curfew continues

Communal tension has gripped the border town of Rajouri in Jammu prompting the administration to impose indefinite curfew on Thursday to prevent further clashes in the area.

Police have registered four cases and arrested 14 people so far to bring situation under control. Tension started soon after the ‘hate speech’ by VHP leader Praveen Togadia a few days ago prompting police to lodge a case under RPC section 153 (A) against him.

Tension again gripped the area when people held procession and torched the effigy of Togadia at the City Chowk. However, the situation turned violent when a religious procession was stoned by some miscreants which created a serious situation in the area.
Sensing trouble, the police immediately imposed curfew in the town to prevent the situation from slipping into chaos. The police and paramilitary forces were deployed in strength to prevent any untoward incident in the area.

“Curfew continues in the area and situation is totally under control. We have registered cases and arrested 14 people so far, said Vijay Samyal, superintendent of police, Rajouri.

The issue also rocked the Legislative assembly. During the zero hour on Thursday, the  opposition members raised the issue seeking statement from the government. Later deputy speaker Sartaj Madni asked the government to come up with the statement.

Law minister Ali Mohammad Sagar on Friday made a statement in the house and said RPC Section 144 has been imposed in the area and cases have been registered besides 11 people have been arrested by the police so far.