DC says he is unaware about the rally
Will enquire what happened on ground: IGP
Panic gripped members of minority community in the Old City area here Thursday after rightwing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) took out a rally brandishing swords and 12 bore guns without any permission from the administration.According to eyewitnesses, RSS men along with activists of other saffron groups assembled in the Old City and displayed swords and guns. They took out a rally through different areas during which they brandished their weapons.
They said the activists of saffron brigade shouted slogans like “Garr Hindustan Mein Rehna Hai To Vande Matram Kehna Hoga” and waved swords while passing though Shalamar, Indra Chowk, Gumat Petrol Pump, Sunder Singh Gurdwara Road, Raghu Nath Bazaar road and City Chowk areas.
Surprisingly, police officers escorted the rally along with contingents of police and paramilitary forces.
“The rally has spread panic among the minorities. It was for the first time that such kind of rally has been taken out in Jammu in such a provocative manner,” said an elderly man Mohammad Riyaz, who was standing outside the Hari Theatre, after seeing the procession of armed RSS men.
He said they have never seen such an aggressive rally before.
“Rallies are taken out by RSS every year with like-minded groups but they never brandished weapons and swords,” Riyaz said, adding today’s RSS rally reminded him of pre-1947 like situation in Jammu when such elements were openly roaming in presence of police and administration.
Mushtaq Choudhary, a civil engineer, said: “I was in a shop when the rally passed from City Chowk. Though police was present but I felt uneasy with the slogans.”
Chuni Lal, another elderly person from the majority community, was furious over the silence of administration.
“Already various parts of country have been witnessing communal tension. The administration should not have allowed such a rally. We have lived with peace from over six decades and don’t want to see any trouble,” he said.
An eyewitness Mohammed Khalid, who was heading for his office, said he saw a load carrier carrying Shiv Sena workers with weapons.
“I was frightened on hearing their provocative sloganeering. I left the place in a hurry. I cannot describe in words what I felt on hearing those provocative slogans,” he said.
Lal accused the administration and police of facilitating the rally. “Being a Hindu, I don’t think there was any need for such kind of rally. Instead, we should try to restore confidence among the minorities living in the region.”
SP (City North Jammu), Shiv Kumar Chouhan said they stopped the rally at Indra Chowk and pushed them back.
When contacted, Inspector General of Police (Jammu Zone) Danish Rana said he does not have any knowledge of provocative sloganeering in the rally.
“However, I will inquire about what has happened on the ground. They keep swords in shastra puja but let me check,” he said.
Rana said he will also check whether they had sought permission before taking out such a rally in the city.
Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Simrandeep Singh told that he does not have any knowledge whether RSS members took out a rally with arms or shouted provocative sloganeering.
SSP Jammu Uttam Chand said no such rally was taken out.
The RSS members also took out rallies in Bhaderwah, Kathua, Samba, RS Pura and other places of Jammu division.
