CHANDIGARH: The army was called out in Anant Nag in Jammu and Kashmir and shoot at sight orders were issued after fresh reports of lootings and arson in nearby towns. The army and paramilitary forces staged a flag march in Anant Nag while Many parts of Jammu and Kashmir remained under curfew. An indefinite curfew was imposed in four towns as a precautionary measure according to official reports.
A report from Anant Nag said that the indefinite curfew that was clamped on Feb 20 remained in force later. The situation in a village where incidents of arson and lootings took place on Feb 20 is said to be under control. The report from Phulwana said that the local police prevented an agitating mob from proceeding to Sirmu Village. In curfew bound Srinagar City, the police fired in the air to disperse small groups of people at the AltiKaddle, Kamarwari and Gurburi Mohalla area. A complete strike was observed in the towns of Gurbana, Bhigapherra, Kulgam and Bara Mulla as a protest against the reopening of the Ram Janam Bhumi Temple at Ayodhya in U.P. Life remained paralized for several days in various parts of the Kashmir Valley with the strict enforcement of the curfew. paramilitary forces carrying Stenguns patrolled several areas of Srinagar and Anant Nag where miscreants indulged in arson until late in the evening. The army has been alerted all over the state, Meanwhile, ‘Anant Nag continues to be tense as several hundred people belonging to the Hindu community staged a demonstration against the calculated attempts to force the members of the community to leave the Kashmir Valley. Demonstrators sat on the road and demanded immediate replacement of the local police by the BS.F, on the grounds that the policemen had harassed them. Patrolling was intensified by the BSF. personnel. For the first time BSF. held flag marches in the violence affected areas of the district. The curfew in Anant Nag town was relaxed for one hour on Feb 23rd. There were a few stray incidents of stone throwing, Members of the minority community namely the Hindus living in the southern parts of the Anant Nag District had sought police protection. In a few villages some ‘women belonging to the minority ‘community namely Hindus were allegedly molested and their house looted. A report said that on Friday, a place of worship in a village was set on fire, Meanwhile, peace Committees have been set up in the affected villages in the district. Member of these committees have organized peace marches, In Bara Mulla prohibitory orders under section 144 C.P.R.C, have been enforced following processions organized by certain groups demanding restoration of the Babri Mosque to the Muslims. An all party committee is said to have succeeded in keeping the situation under control. Most of the shops in the areas. ‘where no curfews was imposed remained closed for the fourth day on Feb 23rd in protest against the recent happenings in Jammu. Small. processions continued to be held in these curfew areas These demonstrators raised slogans like “Islam Khatre Main Hai.” The General Secretary of the all India Kashmiri Pandit conference A.K. Jahalpuri demanded a probe by the High Court Judge into the violence. At least25 Muslim youths are report= ed to have sustained injuries while trying to save members of the majority community from attacks. ‘The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister GM. Shah instructed the district authorities on Feb, 22 to curb lawless men with ruthlessness as new violence was reported from several areas, Official source said that strict orders were an equal to looting and arson in Anant Nag to Srinagar that continue to reel under curfew. Meanwhile, leaders of the Kashmiri Pandit conference have appealed to the Central Government to see that effective security arrangements were made for the Hindu community in the Kashmir Valley in view of the serious attacks made on the minority Hindu Community.
About 50 places of worship ‘were partly damaged and desecrated and a large number of houses belonging to the minority community were raided during these two days.in various parts off the valley following reports about Shiv Sena activists activities and communal crisis in Jammu, Houses of Muslims were made targets for heavy brick batting. Several persons were roughed up and their cars damaged. The wave of anger rapidly spread from the Capital to Anant ‘Nag and its adjoining areas where incidents of more: serious nature place.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 28, 1986
