JAMMU, Apr 23: A complete shutdown was observed across several parts of Jammu region on Wednesday in protest against the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, officials said. The bandh, supported by civil society groups and political organizations, brought normal life to a standstill in areas including Jammu city, Reasi, Udhampur, Katra, Kathua, and Samba.
Shops, business establishments, and public transport services remained shut, while several educational institutions were closed. Government offices witnessed thin attendance. Protesters took to the streets, chanting anti-Pakistan slogans and demanding a strong retaliatory response from India.
“We want a befitting reply to Pakistan on the pattern of surgical strikes,” said senior BJP leader Yudhvir Sethi. Echoing the sentiment, BJP’s Rajesh Gupta said, “We want to avenge the killings. Security forces should take revenge.”
In Reasi, hundreds marched through the streets and burnt tyres as a mark of protest. The Jammu Bar Association also joined the shutdown, expressing anger over the killings. The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Transporters Association, and the Congress supported the bandh.
Authorities reported no untoward incidents during the shutdown. “The situation is under control, and we are in close touch with community leaders,” an official said. Security was heightened with extra deployment of police and paramilitary forces across sensitive locations.
The Pahalgam attack has drawn nationwide condemnation, with many calling it a brutal blow to the values of Kashmiriyat and the region’s tradition of hospitality.
