Jammu remains peaceful; rumor-monger arrested, schools open in border districts

JAMMU: Normalcy returned in Jammu as most educational institutions in five sensitive border districts of the region reopened after a fortnight on Monday with "full attendance", a day after authorities lifted curbs in large parts of the region, while the police arrested a 40-year-old man for allegedly spreading rumours that created panic among people here, and led to suspension of internet services in other five districts on Sunday.
On Monday, educational institutions reopened in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch and Chenab Valley districts of Ramban, Doda and parts of Kishtwar, the officials said, adding the overall security situation remained peaceful throughout the region and educational institutions saw "full attendance".
Authorities in Kishtwar have ordered that all educational institutions in the district be reopened and Airtel mobile services restored from Tuesday.
Jammu and Kashmir was placed under an unprecedented security cover and curfew-like restrictions on August 4, a day before the Centre revoked the state's special status under Article 370 and bifurcated it into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
On August 10, the educational institutions in five other districts of the region -- Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur and Reasi -- had reopened after authorities announced lifting of prohibitory orders.
"All educational institutions across the district, both private and government, including degree colleges and higher secondary schools, resumed classes (on Monday)," deputy commissioner, Rajouri, Aijaz Asad, told.
The situation in the district remained peaceful with markets reopening and traffic plying normally, he added.
Asad said the prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code also stand withdrawn as the law and order situation has been normal. Markets have also opened.
In Poonch district, the officials said barring higher secondary schools and colleges, all educational institutions have reopened and people have resumed their normal activities.
All shops and business establishments are open and traffic is plying normally, they said, adding that the higher secondary schools and colleges are likely to reopen on Tuesday.
Deputy commissioner, Kishtwar, Angrez Singh Rana, said a number of private schools reopened in the district on their own as the law and order situation in the communally sensitive district remained well under control.
"We are officially resuming classwork in all government-run educational institutions from Tuesday. A series of meetings were held with the concerned stakeholders who have extended their support to the district administration in maintaining peace," he said.
Rana issued two separate orders that all the educational institutions will remain functional with effect from Tuesday besides Airtel authorities were directed to resume mobile services in the district.
The day curfew, which was relaxed from time-to-time, was lifted on August 16 but Rana said prohibitory orders along with night curfew will remain in force in the district till further orders.
"The situation has been reviewed in the town and surrounding areas and it was found normal and under control, therefore the concerned authorities of Airtel mobile services has been directed to restore their services in the district with effect from August 20," Rana said.
The officials said primary, middle and higher secondary schools also reopened across Ramban district, except in Banihal sub-division.
The schools up to Class 10 also reopened in Doda district, they said.
The officials said police and paramilitary personnel remain stationed in the sensitive areas in all the five districts as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, one Yashbir Singh alias "Badshah" alias "Don", a resident of Khour, was arrested on the basis of investigation into the widespread rumours in the city on Sunday which led to "panic buying and heavy rush outside fuel stations", Senior Superintendent of Police of Jammu Tejinder Singh told reporters here.
He said the investigation into the rumours revealed that it had started from the rural area of Jammu and accordingly, an FIR was registered at Akhnoor police station on the outskirts of the city on the basis of investigation.
After a thorough analysis and investigation, the police arrested Singh, a resident of Khour village, who is a history-sheeter and drug addict.
The officer said the investigation in the case is going on and action will be taken against all those who actively participated in spreading the rumour.
"The arrested person is being questioned about his motive behind spreading the rumour," he said, requesting people not to pay heed to any rumour and confirm the same with the police station or police post concerned before passing the information to someone else.
He asked the people to behave responsibly and avoid spreading any information or news which is likely to crate panic in the society or disturb public order.
The SSP said the situation in the district remained peaceful with no untoward incident reported from anywhere during the day.
Low-speed Internet services in Jammu region, which were made operational on Saturday, were snapped again on Sunday after it was found that rumours were being circulated.
Landline and mobile phone services and Internet were suspended in the early hours of August 5 before the Centre announced its move to abrogate provisions of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and divide the state into two Union Territories.

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