Curfew in Jammu After Mob Violence Over Pulwama Attack, Army Called in Amid Fears of Communal Backlash

Jammu: Curfew was imposed in Jammu city following massive violence in which at least 12 persons were injured and dozens of vehicles damaged and torched by the mobs during a bandh call on Friday in the wake of the terror attack in Pulwama in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.

The Army has been called in to help maintain law and order and conduct flag marches, officials said. Curfew was imposed as authorities feared a communal backlash.

Protesters, particularly in the old city, refused to disperse even after loudspeakers announced that curfew was imposed. "We have imposed curfew in Jammu city as a precautionary measure," Deputy Commissioner of Jammu Ramesh Kumar said.

According to officials, there was complete bandh in Jammu city and there was no traffic on roads and all shops and markets were closed.

Jammu city was rocked by massive anti-Pakistan protests with people taking to the streets in dozens of places, including Jewel Chowk, Purani Mundi, Rehari, Shaktinagar, Pacca Danga, Janipur, Gandhinagar and Bakshinagar.

Policemen patrol a street after vehicles set on fire by protestors against the killing of CRPF personnel in the Pulwama terror attack, in Jammu, on Friday.

According to some reports, there were clashes in Gujjar Nagar area where some vehicles were damaged due to pelting of stones. However, police swung into action and prevented a major clash.

Raising anti-Pakistan, anti-terrorists slogans, protesters burnt tyres on many roads. The agitators, mostly youth, put up barricades on roads demanding revenge.

Led by the Bajrang Dal, the Shiv Sena and the Dogra front, people took out candle light marches in the city and held anti-Pakistan protests.

The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries (JCCI) had on Thursday called for shut down in Jammu protesting terror attack.

Protesting the Pulwama attack, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Jammu, suspended work in all the courts in Jammu, including the high court and tribunals.

"The suspension of work by the association is a mark of respect to the CRPF jawans killed in the Pulwama attack and to express our solidarity and sympathy with the bereaved families," J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu President, B S Slathia said.