Jammu, August 09 (Scoop News)-Army called out after imposing Curfew in Kishtwar district, 226 kms from Jammu following clashes between two communities. In these clashes fifteen were people injured.
According to Police sources the clashes broke out in Kuleed area of Kishtwar and soon spread in the district. They said that the two groups indulged in stone-pelting and arson in which 10 shops were set on fire.
Reports said that a group of people, raising anti-national slogans after the Eid prayers, was attacked by another section of people in Kuleed area leading to tension.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah directed senior state and civil officials including the Police Chief Ashok Prasad and Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey to rush to the scene and try and control the situation.
Meanwhile State President JKDF Anil Gupta strongly condemned the incidents of violence against the minorities in Kishtwar area. He said that these type incidents may further deteriorate the already tense atmosphere in the Hilly region.
Anil Gupta assailed the Omar Abdullah Government for its inapt handling of the situation. He alleged that Government allowed the situation to go out of control for about four hours before it called Army. Violent mob went ransack for several hours to destroy the property of minorities before Government acted.
Voicing concern over the incidents of communal violence against minority community, Anil Gupta observed that these are not without meaning but part of a bigger design of the operators of Proxy war launched from across the border for over two decades now. These could be a precursor to the bigger plans to disturb the peace and tranquility as had been going on in the past too, before stepping up cross border terror and other violence. But the situation demanded a tactful handling of the situation thus created in fair and judicious manner especially keeping a close watch over the handlers at the different levels.
He said that elements raising anti national slogans by exploiting such incidents should be identified and taken to task making it clear that there was no scope for allowing such utterances.
Anil Gupta said that the raising of such slogans are meant to keep the sentiments active that there is still a scope for secessionism which should not be tolerated.
He also pleaded for firmness in dealing with other secessionist and separatist moves.
Appealing the people of Kishtwar for maintaining peace and communal harmony, He said that both the communities are living with peace and harmony and having a tradition to participate in each other’s religious festivals . Some vested interests are bent upon to disturb the peace and calm in this hilly District.
In Jammu region people always showed high degree of religious tolerance whenever the misunderstanding and mistrust between the different communities are created by anti social elements.
Sh. Anil Gupta expressed hope that the people of this region are enough mature to thwart the nefarious design of some vested interests to disturb the peace in the State.
To express solidarity with the victims of violence JKDF has called for Jammu Bandh on Saturday and shall also hold protest demonstration against the Government failure to control the situation.
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