STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Several parts of Jammu region observed a complete shutdown on Wednesday to protest the terror attack in Pahalgam, officials said.
Besides Jammu city, shutdown was observed in Reasi, Udhampur, Katra, Kathua, and Samba.
Protests were held in several parts of Jammu city, with many protesters raising anti-Pakistan slogans.
“We want a befitting reply to Pakistan on the pattern of surgical strikes to destroy terror bases there. We want terrorists and their supporters in J-K to be eliminated,” senior BJP leader Yudhvir Sethi told reporters here.
He further said Pakistan will never end support to terrorism and that strict action should be taken.
“We want to avenge the killings. Security forces should take revenge,” another BJP leader Rajesh Gupta said.
In Reasi, hundreds of people took out a march and burnt tyres as a mark of protest. The bandh brought normal life in Jammu city to a grinding halt. Shops and business establishments remained closed, and public transport was off the roads in response to the shutdown call given by several civil society groups and trade bodies.
Several educational institutions were closed, and attendance was lower than usual in government offices. The Jammu Bar Association also observed shut down against the killings.
Several organisations, including the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Transporters Association, Jammu Bar Association, and the Congress, called for a complete shutdown in Jammu.
“The situation during the shutdown is normal. There are no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere in the region,” an officer said.
The administration is in close touch with community leaders to maintain harmony.
Additional deployments of police and paramilitary forces were made in vulnerable locations, while checkpoints were set up to monitor movement, officials said.
The killings in Pahalgam have sent shockwaves across the country, drawing condemnation from political parties, human rights groups, and citizens alike.
Many termed the attack a heinous assault on the spirit of Kashmiriyat and the region’s age-old tradition of hospitality.
Former DGP SP Vaid termed it as a “Pulwama 2 moment” for India.
“This attack is not a coincidence; it is a well-planned operation. I have said this earlier too… these are Pakistan SSG commandos dressed as terrorists. A couple of days ago, Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir made a statement, and now you see this kind of attack,” he said.
The former police chief further said, “Asim Munir is using ‘jihad’ language; the attack has been carried out in a similar fashion. The response should be similar to what Israel did after the Hamas attack. There should be an appropriate response.”
Meanwhile, the Jammu region witnessed massive anti-Pakistan protests staged by mainstream political parties, socio-political and religious organisations.
The protesters burnt effigies of Pakistan and raised slogans demanding that a fitting reply be given to the neighbouring country, terrorists and their supporters in Jammu and Kashmir.
Congress workers clashed with police while seeking permission to take out a protest march in the city.
Led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Yudhvir Sethi, a joint protest march was taken out in the city’s Satwari area by the saffron party, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal and other social organisations.
Raising slogans against Pakistan, its army chief, terrorists and their local support structure, the protesters demanded a befitting reply to the neighbouring country and its terrorist networks in Jammu and Kashmir.
They also burnt Pakistan’s flag.
“We want a crackdown by security forces on terrorists and their local support structure. A befitting reply should be given to Pakistan,” former Jammu and Kashmir minister Priya Sethi told reporters here.
Former Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina, who led another protest march in the city, said, “We will avenge the killings of our brothers. Come what may, terrorists and their local supporters will be eliminated soon.”
Youth activists of the Congress took out a rally from the party office in Jammu but police prevented them from proceeding, resulting in a brief clash.
Raising slogans against Pakistan and terrorists, the participants in the march, led by former minister Yogesh Sawhney, said the Congress and the people of the country stand by those who have lost their near ones in the Pahalgam attack.
“The government should take the strongest measures against those involved in the attack,” Yogesh said.
The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), Jammu Bar Association (JBA), All Jammu and Kashmir Transporters’ Association and Jammu Traders Association, who had given a bandh call, also took out separate protest marches against Pakistan.
The Shiv Sena Dogra Front, Rashtriya Bajrang Dal and other organisations burnt tyres and Pakistan’s flags.
“These were targeted killings. It is our demand that action should be taken against Pakistan and its local support base,” Rashtriya Bajrang Dal chairman Rakesh told reporters.
Similar protests were held in Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi, Katra, Udhampur, Kathua, Samba, Banihal, Ramban, Poonch and Rajouri.
Most political parties, including the BJP, Congress, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC), expressed solidarity with those who lost their kin in the Pahalgam attack.
Several Muslim organisations, both jointly and individually, took out protest marches in Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar, Banihal and Udhampur.
They condemned the attack and demanded stern action against the perpetrators.
“We condemn this attack. It is un-Islamic. Islam does not allow innocents to be killed. We want the government to take stern action against the culprits,” said Aijaz Khan, a leader.
Massive protests erupted in the border town of Rajouri, with people taking to the streets against the Pahalgam terror attack.
The protests were held under the banner of Mohan Sanatan Dharam Sabha Rajouri, with people calling for a final assault against terrorism.