Shutdown passes off peacefully in Jammu

Chamber 'warns' of 'more confrontation' if issues not addressed

JAMMU: A shutdown called by Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to lodge protest against government for delay in implementation of some Jammu specific projects and policies, passed off peacefully with most of the business establishments in main markets shutting down voluntarily.
All major business hubs of the winter capital city including Raghunath Bazaar, Kanak Mandi, Rajinder Bazaar, Gole Market and Apsara Road remained shut. The vehicular traffic was quite thin on the city roads even as public transport was kept out of the purview of shutdown to avoid inconvenience to the general public.
Private vehicles plied normally causing no inconvenience to the office goers and school children. All major private and government schools functioned normally.
Since mid morning to later afternoon a team of the Chamber office bearers led by their president Rakesh Gupta toured across all bazaars of the city and thanked people for their cooperation. Except an incident of confrontation between an office bearer of the Chamber and a matador operator, there were no reports of violence from part of the city. "There was no bandh related violence reported from anywhere," Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu, Sunil Gupta confirmed.
The National Panthers Party also took staged dharna and set worn out tyres on fire at a couple of places to participate in the protest against the government. Peaceful protests were held by many other groups at several places in Jammu.
Shops in some areas, including the old city, remained shut, while those that were opened had to be closed after 'bandh' supporters visited the areas seeking support for the shutdown.
Transport services, hospitals, banks and educational institutions were largely unaffected by the shutdown, though some schools and colleges were shut as a precaution.
The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries (JCCI) had called the shutdown in support of their various demands, including the abolition of toll tax charged by the state government at Lakhanpur, and for the deportation of Rohingya Muslims residing in the region.
Bandh supporters also protested at on the Jammu- Panthankote highway, officials said, but added that it did not affect the movement of traffic on the highway.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) said the shutdown was a demonstration of resentment against the BJP for its failure to deliver the promises made to the people. JKPCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma claimed the bandh had attracted tremendous response.
Later in the evening, a statement from the Chamber expressed satisfaction over response of business community to the shutdown call "in support of the pending demands of the Chamber and against irresponsible and unwanted statement of State BJP Chief".
"The bandh was completely peaceful and no violence took place and also nobody was forced to close down their business establishment. The Chamber did not enforce Chakajam because of requests from many organisations and people at large as it would cause inconvenience to everyone. Chamber also allowed the Chemist shop to remain open so that the patients do not suffer for want of medicines", said the statement.