Police had to use batons and teargas shells to bring the situation under control.
Clashes broke out between BJP activists and members of the Bar Association in Jammu today over demands for a separate AIIMS hospital in the region.
Police had to use batons and teargas shells to bring the situation under control after protesters allegedly tried to force their way into the BJP office in the Kachi Chaawni area.
The Jammu Bar Association is a part of the AIIMS Coordination Committee which has called for a three-day strike in Jammu starting today after rejecting the BJP-led Central government's announcement of "AIIMS-like facilities" in the region.
Abhinav Sharma, who heads both the bar association and the hospital committee, said, "The BJP has yet again betrayed and cheated the people of Jammu region by saying that the Union Health Ministry today agreed to provide AIIMS-like facilities to Jammu region."
The Bar Association had targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government and urged the people across Jammu region to come out on the streets today to protest against the BJP.
Shops, public transport and other businesses were adversely affected but government offices, banks and post offices functioned normally.
The protests also saw support from the Congress party which attacked the BJP for "trying to sabotage the people's struggle for the issue".
The Central government had earlier announced that a separate All India Institute of Medical Sciences could not be setup in the region but comparable medical facilities will provided in the state.
The stand appeared like a volte-face from Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh's strong assurance of a full-fledged AIIMS in Jammu, the protestors alleged.
The Centre had earlier announced plans to set up new AIIMS hospitals in six different states.