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Protests staged in Jammu

TILAK MEHRA. Dated: 7/20/2013 1:02:00 AM

Agitators demand impartial probe in Gool killings

JAMMU, Jul 19: Scores of anti-government protest demonstrations were staged in Jammu city in Muslim-dominated areas, starting from various mosques after offering Friday prayers to register their protest against the death of the four civilians in the BSF firing. Amarnath Yatra was also halted today after tensions in Jammu and Kashmir over the killing of civilians and desecration of Holy Quran in the BSF and police firing in Ramban area yesterday.
Three main demonstrations were held at Khatikan Talab, Ustad Mohalla and Gujjar Nagar where hundreds of peoples raised slogans against state government and Border Security Forces (BSF) and demanded impartial probe in the Gool incident. They also appealed to Muslim community to continue their protest to show their resentment against the repressive and brutal act till justice is done.
Heavy contingents of police had been deployed in the city, especially the Muslim dominated areas to maintain law and order situation. After the Friday prayers, the angry protesters took out a rally procession towards Shahidi Chowk to show their resentment against the state and central government as well as security forces. The police did not allow the protesters to move beyond Shahidi Chowk, resulting in a scuffle between the protestors and the police.
Khatikan Talab and Gujjar Nagar today observed a complete shutdown. The Muslim leaders of these areas said that the community is being provoked intentionally and in a planned manner while giving a free hand to Indian Forces personnel to suppress Muslim community in Jammu and Kashmir.
While taking to Kashmir Times, Muslim Federation Jammu President Talat Niaz Qazi said, “It is the duty of men in uniform to protect the life and property of people but the irony is that men in uniform are acting as real terrorists and are indulging in inhuman acts. Such actions could prove unproductive not only for the State of Jammu and Kashmir but for whole country as well.
Condemning the action of BSF, the agitators said, “One should not forget that whosoever acts in sacrilegious acts witnesses his own death in a brutal manner. We seek an impartial probe into the matter and appeal all Muslims of the state to protest peacefully and show their resentment against the brutal act.”
Similar protest was also staged at Ustad Mohalla, led by the community leaders. The protestors blocked the road after offering Friday prayers in which traffic movement was halted for one hour. The protesters also raised anti-government and the National Conference slogans and demanded to register a genocide case against persons involved in the massacre.
The protesters further appealed the Muslims in general to visit Medical College Hospital Jammu to see the injured in the incident and encourage them by providing eatables and other commodities and express sympathy with them and appealed to the people to remain peaceful and maintain communal harmony.
The reports of protest demonstrations/rallies were also carried out from the all the mosques after Friday prayers from Bathindi, Sunjawan, Narwal Malik Market, Janipur, Nagrota, Gujjar Nagar and other areas to show strong integrity and sympathy with the innocent victims of Gool Panchayat Dharam massacre.