Jammu observes Bandh against Taliban atrocities in Pak

Jammu, May 08: Normal life came to stand still in Jammu, winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, as noisy protest demonstrations rocked the city, which observed a complete shutdown in protest against the alleged atrocities on Sikh community in the Swat tribal region of Pakistan.

The strike call was given by at least twenty political and non-political organizations including Bar Association Jammu (BAJ), Bajrang Dal (BD), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Reports from various parts of the city revealed that all the schools, shops and other business establishment remained closed, while commercial vehicles remained off the road in response to the Bandh call on Friday.

The non-plying of the commercial vehicles and protest demonstrations at various places across the city also affected the attendance at government offices.

Anti-Taliban protest rocked the city since early morning as activists of BJP, Shiv Sena and Sikh organizations blocked some important roads by burning tyres.

Shouting slogans against the Pakistan government and Taliban, members of BAJ assembled outside the premises of High Court Jammu and held out a protest demonstration, which culminated at Bikram Chowk, sources told News Agency of Kashmir adding that the lawyers, accompanied by VHP and BJP activists, blocked vehicular movement near Tawi bridge, which led to a minor clash with the police.

Eyewitness said that police had to resort to can charge after some people were thrashed and manhandled by the protestors on Tawi Bridge and Satwari Chowk

VHP and Bajrang Dal activists also staged a protest demonstration on Jammu-Pathankot highway disrupting the vehicular movement for more than two hours .

Activist of Shiv Sena Hindustan held a protest demonstration outside Press Club Jammu. The protestors burnt effigy of Taliban and urged the Prime Minister to pressurize the Pakistan government for the security of Sikh and Hindu communities.

Keeping in view Jammu bandh call, students remained within the four walls of house while schools and business establishment were closed and traffic remained off the road.

Narinder Singh, one of the protesters at Digana told News Agency of Kashmir that Sikh community of India is very much concerned about the well being of their brethren in Pakistan. It is the responsibility of Pakistan government to work for the betterment and rehabilitation of the migrated Sikh and Hindu communities, he added. (NAK)