Internet suspended, curfew in parts of Jammu
SRINAGAR: Curfew was imposed on Friday in several parts of Jammu, including Kishtwar, Bhadarwah, Ramban and Batote, and Internet remained suspended across the state following communal tension in Doda district a day earlier over derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad.
A complete shutdown was observed in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley, with all shops and business establishments remaining closed. Protests were held at Batamaloo, with demonstrators seeking detention of BJP’s Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal for their comments on the Prophet.
In Jammu, residents of Gujjar Nagar submitted a written complaint against local TV journalist Ashish Kumar for supporting Sharma’s remarks on social media. Sporadic stone-pelting was reported in Bhadarwah against “derogatory remarks against Islam” by Ashish Sharma, a local resident, and stopped only after cops intervened. Police said an FIR has already been registered against Sharma. Additional director general of police (Jammu range) Mukesh Singh also visited the trouble-hit areas to assess the law and order situation.
Meanwhile, All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq denounced the remarks made against Islam and the Prophet. “We strongly believe in respect and reverence for all religions and religious figures, a fact borne out by peaceful co-existence of people of this land for centuries,” an APHC statement said.
