JAMMU, Apr 11: Partial shutdown was observed in Jammu and two pilgrims we’re injured after Lawyers attacked bus they were travelling while a shop was vandalised as well on Wednesday.
Bar association Jammu had called for a Jammu Bandh over various issues including that alleged settling of Rohingyas and Bangladesh refugees and demanding that Ashifa Rape and murder case be handed over to Central Burue of Investigation.
Two Vaishno Devi pilgrims were injured near Dogra Chowk when a group of Lawyers alongwith their supporters forcibly stopped the commercial bus carrying pilgrims from Katra and damaged the window panes with Lathis due to which 2 women pilgrims received injuries in their faces when they were bbein taken to Railway Station Jammu for their destinations.
Violent incidents in the city with Commercial Operators in some parts in the city too erupted when the lawyer community misbehaved with transporters of Jammu-Katra-Udhampur routes at Ambphalla Chowk and Dogra Chowk.
“The protesters even not spare M/S Ganpathi Sweet Shop in Gandhi Nagar which was also targeted by the Lawyer fraternity and damaged the front glasses of the shop,” eye witnesses said.
Work in all the courts, including the Revenue Courts, Tribunals and Commissions, even in the High Court, remained paralysed for the seventh consecutive day, while members of the Bar Association of Jammu staged a protest dharna at the District Court Complex.
“People protested by burning effigies at several places and various roads in Janipur, Tawi Bridge, Gandhi Nagar, Satwari, Jewel and Purani Mandi of the city including adjoining areas,” eye witnesses said.
“JKHCBA President B S Slathia along with lawyer fraternity visited the various markets after receiving information about opening of some business establishments in Raghunath Bazar, Purani Mandi, Raj Tilak Road and other adjoining markets. He appealed the shopkeepers to close their shops keeping in view of issues and alleged that PDP-BJP with using force, including police, to derail the agitation,” reports said.
“In case, the government continues to play dilly-dallying tactics with the sentiments of the people and does not come out forth with demands and issues of Jammu region we will continue this agitation,” slathia said.
He warned that ‘ugly actions by the government and the unwarranted disruption of people’s right to protest will boomerang for the BJP.’
He further said, “People of Jammu have awakened for their rights and we should build pressure on the coalition government for resolution of genuine demands and thanked to all the leaders of the Civil Society to make Jammu Bandh a success”.
The leadership of Vishav Hindu Parishad also attended the dharna and supported the demands raised by the Bar Association, Jammu vis-à-vis the Call of Jammu Bandh.
Shops at most places opened in Chenab Valley, were normal although some markets remained closed whereas educational institutions at most places here functioned as usual, with the exemption of a few where the shutdown was effective. Public transport operated normally as operators did not support the shutdown call.
The Lawyers of Poonch and Rajouri district Bar Associations have also dissociated themselves from the shutdown call.
