Jammu Tawi, August 5: protests The violent protests in Kashmir valley has now picked up by Muslim-majority areas of the Jammu region. Normal life was derailed in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch districts today by observing shutdown in these areas.
All business establishments remained closed and commercial vehicles remained off the road in a few areas. Demonstrations were held across these districts after Friday prayers with people raising pro-freedom slogans and expressing concern over the unabated civilian killings in Kashmir.
Security was beefed up in all these towns as the day passed off peacefully without any untoward incident. The protests were peaceful except for a couple of stone-throwing incidents in Banihal and Rajouri.
In these towns, protesters dispersed after cane charge by the police and the situation brought back to normal. Three protesters received minor injuries in Banihal and were given first-aid at the sub-district hospital in the town.
In Rajouri, protesters threw stones on security force personnel and raised pro-freedom, pro-Burhan, anti-Modi and anti-government slogans. The police had to cane charge the protesters to bring the situation under control.
Hundreds of persons in Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Bhalessa, Banihal, Batote, Surankote and some interior areas held protests against civilian killings in the Kashmir valley.
In Kishtwar, a candlelight protest was held on Thursday evening and hundreds took part in a sit-in at the bus stand today. In Doda, the market was shut, including shops of members of the minority community.
In Kishtwar and Bhaderwah, members of the majority community observed a complete shutdown. In Banihal, the shutdown entered the third day and traffic remained off the roads.
It was for the first time that a spontaneous shutdown was observed in Muslim-majority areas of the Jammu region over civilian killings in Kashmir. Earlier shutdowns were observed in particular areas, but the entire area had never been involved.
