STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Life in Jammu region was thrown out of gear on Thursday following Bandh call and protests in almost all the crossings and chowks of Jammu city to protest over alleged police high-handedness on outstation students at NIT in Srinagar. The region witnessed demonstrations by various groups, including Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP), Shiv Sena, Dogra Front and Jammu Bar Association against the cane-charge on outstation students by the police on 5th April.
Bharat Mata Ki Jai was the slogan everywhere. People blamed BJP for succumbing to the pressure of separatist forces. “We voted you (BJP) to power and BJP got 25 seats,” said PoK Refugees Association Chairman Rajiv Chunni, adding, “Now BJP has sold Jammuites for the sake of power.”
“BJP has been exposed in Jammu and now they cannot take claim of saving minority community in the State,” Chunni said, adding, “These so called Jammu leaders will always succumb to their pressure tactics of valley leaders.”
The Bar Association of Jammu (BAJ) also decided to suspend work in all the Courts across the region.
“Yesterday we held a meeting and decided to suspend work in all the Courts across Jammu region.
“Though we are yet to extend our support for the strike but the BAJ has suspended work in all Courts across the region to protest against police brutality on the students,” BAJ President Abhinav Sharma said.
The lawyers also held a protest outside the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, demanding action against the police officials for allegedly manhandling the outstation students of the institute.
Several student organisations took to the streets and blocked the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway at Bikram Chowk.
A heavy contingent of police was deployed at several places across the region to maintain law and order.
While schools and other educational institutions remained closed, the attendance at government and private offices remained thin.
