Curfew imposed here in Jammu and Kashmir was not relaxed on Saturday two days after 49 CRPF troopers were blown up in a suicide attack on the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Pulwama by a Jaish-e-Mohammad militant, although authorities claimed the situation was under control.
“Curfew will continue till further orders. We will take a call later in the day after assessing the overall law and order situation,” said an official here.
The mobile Internet suspension started on Friday and continued on Saturday, as well.
Speed of fixedline broadband connections has also been slashed to prevent any form of amplification of the situation given the fact that anti-social elements could upload inflammatory pictures and comments on social media to disrupt peace in the city.
Curfew was imposed on Friday when a mob torched and damaged at least 30 vehicles belonging to local Muslims and Kashmiris.
The Army was immediately called out to assist the civil administration to restore order in the city.
Curfew was initially imposed in some vulnerable areas, but was later extended to the entire city as tension mounted in the wake of violence against a particular section of the society.
The authorities met with important citizens belonging to different communities on Friday to seek their help in bringing the city back to normal.
Meanwhile, arsonists have wrecked havoc in Janipur area of Jammu city instilling fear among the Kashmiri employees who are residing in the government quarters.
Sources in Jammu informed Kashmir Post that the police has done absolutely nothing to stop the mobsters who kept pelting stones on Kashmiri vehicles, residential quarters and pedestrians in Janipur colony. “While the administration has imposed curfew in Jammu, the police has let arsonists a free hand. People are able to move quite easily in the curfew-bound areas,” they said.
Instead, sources said, that the SSP Jammu reached the spot and asked Kashmiri employees to stay indoors rather than acting against the arsonists.
They said that the right-wing extremists also circled the residential colony and raised provocative slogans to incite trouble.
Earlier as reported by a local news gathering agency, Secretariat Employees Union President Ghulam Rasool Mir has condemned the attack and urged the administration to ensure the safety of Kashmiris and those from the particular community.
“This is highly condemnable. There are brazen attempts to damage the communal harmony and brotherhood and the administration must swing into action to ensure that such attacks are stopped instantly and that life and property of the Kashmiris and other innocents are protected,” he said.
On Friday, there was widespread violence in which nearly 30 vehicles belonging to a particular community were reduced to ashes while more than 50 vehicles were damaged during a strike called by the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries and Bar Association.
The residents of Janipur housing colony in Jammu on Saturday said they were attacked three times since the morning by mobs, even as they accused the police of not being tough on the miscreants.
A local, Shah Abul Kalam, told Kashmir Post: “Mobs attacked us at around 8 am, then around 10 am and then again at around 12:30 pm. They pelted stones at our quarters and threatened to set ablaze our vehicles, which are parked on the roadside. They were shouting and abusing, asking us to leave.”
Another local, wishing anonymity, said: “There are a few houses outside the Housing Colony. These are most prone to attacks. Police has not done its bit and we are scared for our lives.”
When contacted, station house officer (SHO), Janipur, told Greater Kashmir that they have brought the situation under control.
“We used baton-charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob. The situation is under control as necessary personnel have been deployed,” said the SHO.
