Jammu-R S Pura road blocked for 7 hours Clash over Bhindranwale’s poster; SHO, IC/PP among 8 injured

 STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Eight cops including Station House Officer (SHO) Satwari, Incharge Police Post (IC/PP) Gadi Garh and an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) were injured when clashes broke out between a section of people and the police after a poster on flex of slain Bhindranwale surfaced in the City outskirts on Wednesday.
According to reports, an agitated mob attacked a police party at Rani Bagh area and blocked the Jammu-R S Pura Road almost the entire day. They attacked the police with sharp edged weapons, as a result of which IC/PP Gadi Garh Sub-Inspector Arun Sharma was injured. However, SHO Satwari Inspector Kulbir Choudhary besides an ASI and three other cops and two civilians escaped with minor injuries in stone pelting.
S-I Arun received series of stab injuries in his stomach and head. Doctors at GMC hospital immediately operated upon him as the stab injuries were life threatening.
The trouble started in the morning when police removed a poster of Bhindranwale displayed outside a Gurdwara at Rani Bagh near Jammu Airport. This angered a group of people, who were attending a function held in observance of the death anniversary of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale on June 6.
The protesters also raised Khalistan Zindabad slogans.
Soon after, Jammu SSP Uttam Chand along with a contingent of police rushed to the spot and took control of the situation. Timely cordoning of the area averted a major clash, said an eye witness.
When asked to produce permission for holding a function in observance of the death anniversary of Bhindranwale, the protesters told the SSP that they were observing this every year. They refused to lift Dharna and sought apology from SHO and his suspension.
DC Jammu Simrandeep Singh also rushed to the spot and allowed the protesters to display Bhindranwale’s poster at the same spot. He also assured the protesters that the SHO will be attached soon.
However, Jammu SSP Uttam Chand took a stand and insisted for a written permission. He also refused to attach the SHO. The DC, however, left the spot after allowing the display of poster.
An eye witness said, ” It is very strange that how the DC gave his consent to display the poster and assured the SHO’s attachment.”
Later, at the intervention of Mahant of Digiana Ashram, the dharna was lifted after police gave an assurance of departmental inquiry against the SHO.
When contacted, Jammu SSP Uttam Chand, said, “The dharna has been lifted and road has been cleared. We are now persuading the Sikh protesters to remove the poster.”
To a question as to how the DC allowed the protesters to display the poster , SSP replied “DC didn’t allow display of the poster but we are persuading the protesters to remove it.”
Air passengers had tough time to reach the airport as the vehicular traffic on the road remained stand still.
Police has registered an FIR for attack on police personnel on duty.