Peace committees to be setup in J&K ahead of Ayodhya verdict

Ahead of the Allahabad bench of Lucknow high court verdict on Ayodhya title suits on September 24, peace committees are being set up in the districts to maintain communal harmony and law and order.

"We have decided to set up peace committees in order to maintain communal harmony, peace and law and order to nip any possible communal flare up," deputy commissioner Poonch, Kuldeep Khajuria told PTI.

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

"The process has already begun in this regard. We are expecting to have these committees formed by Wednesday," Khajuria said.

These committees will be instrumental in creation of communal harmony and brotherhood, maintain peace and help police and administration in maintaining law and order.

A similar process to set up peace committees has been initiated in the districts of Kishtwar, Doda, Rajouri and Ramban.

Reviewing the law and order situation here, inspector general of police, Jammu Zone, Ashok Gupta directed the district police chief to hold interactions with prominent persons in the districts to play their roles in maintaining peace and order.

Security in the sensitive areas of Jammu region has been beefed up and law and order enforcing agencies have been asked to maintain an extra vigil ahead of the court's verdict.

The Poonch district has recently faced worst violent protests that left three death, 20 others injured in police firing, besides burning of over 16 government buildings, 18 vehicles last week.