Jammu passes normalcy test after 6-day curfew | Schooling resumes today, Colleges still off

Mobile internet restored, dusk to dawn restrictions continue

JAMMU: After six-day long curfew which saw peaceful spells of periodic relaxations over last two days, the district administration has lifted the day curfew as the town limps back to normalcy.

Curfew was imposed on February 15 after events of arson and rioting the same day during a shutdown called to mourn and protest the killings of over 40 CRPF officials in a terrorist attack in Pulwama district of South Kashmir the previous day.

Jammu District Magistrate Ramesh Kumar ordered this evening resumption of schooling in the town by Thursday even as colleges have been advised to remain shut for the day. Kumar said curfew has not been entirely lifted as restrictions shall remain in force between dusk and dawn. The DM also called upon the transport companied to ply normally from tomorrow.

Briefing media persons, in a joint press conference together with SSP Jammu, Ramesh said that normalcy has restored in Jammu as no untoward incident had taken place as authorities Wednesday relaxed curfew in the entire Jammu city for the first time since its imposition on Friday last.

SSP Jammu Tejinder Singh informed that the rumor mongers will be dealt as per law. He said that on such FIR against the rumor monger has been lodged at the Bagh-e-Bahu Police Station where in family of the girl who went missing, tried to communalize the issue, lodged complaint with police that their minor girl had been kidnapped by some youth of a particular community. He appealed the media persons to verify the news before broadcasting it.

He said that on 16.02.2019, a written complaint was received from Ali Mohd at P/S Bagh-e-Bahu regarding missing of his daughter from her home.

On this, a case was registered under FIR No.15 dated 20.02.2019 U/S 363 RPC at P/S Bagh-e-Bahu and investigation was taken up. During investigation, the missing girl was traced within a span of 48 hours and the girl was produced before the Hon’ble Court for recording of her statement U/S 164-A Cr.PC. From the statement of the girl it was clearly revealed that she left her home on 15th morning as her family were mistreating her and she was not happy with the treatment .

It is pertinent to mention here that some rumour mongers tried to exploit this case by giving it a different flarewhich the girl denied in her statement before the Hon’ble Court. A case has been registered against the miscreants who tried to give this case a communal angle.

A case FIR No. 18 dated 20.02.2019 U/S 153-A/505/120 RPC has been registered and investigation is going on and one miscreant has been arrested and others shall be booked accordingly.

District Magistrate, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, initially ordered relaxation in the curfew in the entire city from 8 am to 11 am and later extended till 3 pm as no untoward incident was reported from anywhere. Policemen were seen making rounds of the city early this morning to announce relaxation of the curfew and asked people to resume their normal activities.

Although most of the shops and business establishments remained closed and only private vehicles were mostly seen on the road, the easing of restrictions allowed the people to come out of their homes and buy essential commodities. People in some areas complained of shortage of vegetables, milk and ration and demanded that ATMs be made operational immediately as they are running out of cash.

Kumar said prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC would remain in force in the entire city as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order. All wine shops and bars will also remained closed, he said.

All educational institutions remained closed in Jammu district on the orders of the government for the sixth consecutive day. However, officials said the examination of 8th and 9th classes would be held as per schedule Thursday in all districts of Jammu province.

“In case of restrictions in any area, the admit cards of students and identity cards of teachers will be treated as curfew passes,” the officials said. They said barring Jammu district, mobile internet services (2G only) was restored.

Curfew was relaxed in a phased manner in the city on Tuesday and five police station areas falling in city’s south a day earlier. Curfew was imposed in the entire Jammu city on Friday last following massive anti-Pakistan protests and sporadic incidents of violence over the terror attack in Pulwama district of south Kashmir which left 40 CRPF personnel dead.