Srinagar:
The tension in Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir following Friday's communal clashes has now spread to other adjoining areas. Curfew has been clamped in Jammu and Rajouri districts following incidents of arson and violence and the Army has been called in. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah appealed to people to not fall prey to rumours and assured that the government will do everything to restore calm.
Here are the latest developments in the story:
"I appeal to the people not to let the political parties exploit your sentiments. I am using the channels of the media to tell you to not fall prey to rumours. Don't allow political parties to exploit these rumours," Mr Abdullah said today.
News agency PTI quoted senior police officials as saying that curfew has also been imposed in the Udhampur, Samba and Kathua districts as precautionary measure.
Mobile Internet services too have been blocked in the entire state. The government has also suspended the annual Amarnath Yatra from Jammu as a precautionary measure. (Read)
There is a bandh in Jammu and Kashmir following calls given by the BJP and the separatists over the Kishtwar clashes. A few BJP supporters were detained today while trying to enter Jammu and Kashmir from Punjab. Government has also put restrictions on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti who was planning to visit Kishtwar.
Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, who was on his way to Kishtwar, was stopped at the Jammu airport. He was not allowed to go to Kishtwar that has been under curfew since two people were killed and 30 others were injured after rival groups attacked each other on Friday. (Read)
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi tweeted today, slammed the state government for stopping Mr Jaitley. "Stopping Opposition leaders in this manner shows that the Government does not want the truth about the Kishtwar violence to come out," he tweeted.
Fresh clashes were reported on Saturday in which three persons were injured. Even as Army troops in armoured vehicles drove through the streets of Kishtwar - located nearly 230 kilometres north of Jammu - the local administration advised people to remain indoors and not to violate prohibitory orders.
In Jammu, a bandh called on Saturday in protest against the Kishtwar clashes, has been extended by 48 hours.
The Jammu-Pathankot highway has been blocked. Two trains headed to Jammu were also stopped by protesters near Kathua on Saturday. The tension has also spilled over to the Valley where a separatist-sponsored shutdown called on Saturday will remain in place today.
The state government has already ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident and has transferred the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of Kishtwar district as part of efforts to restore peace in the town.
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