STATE TIMES NEWS
BHADARWAH: To lodge their protest, against the alleged criminal silence of both Union and State Government over Kashmir killings and unrest in Chenab Valley, a complete shutdown was observed by the members of particular community in Bhadarwah on Friday.
Shops, other business establishments and some private schools of particular community remained closed, however government schools, offices and banks are functioning normally and traffic was plying on the roads as usual.
The shutdown call was given by Anjuman-e-Isalamia Bhadarwah in protest against the Union and State Government, for not initiating any talks and maintaining a criminal silence over the sufferings of Kashmiri people since last 41 days.
“People of Kashmir are going through the worst, but surprisingly a criminal silence is being maintained by both Union and State Government which is further aggravating the problem and unrest is fast spreading also in Chenab Valley and other parts of Jammu province ,” said Anjuman-e-Islamia President Pervaiz Ahmed Sheikh.
” We have given a call for peaceful Bandh to lodge our protest , but for how long we will keep our emotions in control, as both the governments instead of initiating the talks are trying to curb the unrest by killing and wounding innocent people. We are being pushed to the wall for which retaliation is bound to happen,” he added saying that government is testing our patience and if any untoward thing happens in Chenab Valley, none but government will be responsible for that.
Except Bhadarwah there was no shutdown call in other parts of the district but to thwart any untoward incident, elaborate security arrangements were made in all the major towns of district including Doda, Thathri, Gandoh, Kahara and Bhadarwah.
“The jawans and officers have been advised to practice maximum restraint, but to deal with any ugly situation, we have deployed extra columns of police , JKAP and CRPF at all the sensitive places and also outside the Mosque in Bhadarwah,Thathri and Gandoh, where Friday prayers are held,” said a senior police officer.
However, Bandh passed off peacefully and there is no report of any untoward incident, when last report came in.
Meanwhile, complete shutdown was observed in Banihal of district Ramban after the Friday prayers, this afternoon.
In Jamia Masjids as well as in town Banihal people raised slogans in favour of freedom and against the innocent people killed by security forces in Kashmir.
Heavy deployment of security including CRPF, SSB and police personnel was witnessed in Banihal as a preventive measure for any untowards situation and to crush the voice of people who were raising slogans infavour of freedom. However hundreds of youths protested and there were hard words between protesters and security forces. The youths of Banihal said that they are with the people of Kashmir by heart during this critical situation.
