08-04-2008, 02:16 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Jammu stir spreading fast </b>
Pioneer.com
Mohit Kandhari | Jammu
<b>Curfew imposed in Rajouri, Bhaderwah, Udhampur</b>
The agitation over the Amarnath land transfer issue is fast spreading to other districts in Jammu region. On Sunday, the State administration clamped curfew in two more districts of Rajouri and Udhampur and Bhaderwah town of Doda district to prevent any untoward incident. The district magistrate in Jammu blacked out local TV news channel to crush mass movement of people, which entered 33rd day. Meanwhile, the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti intensified its agitation further by extending Jammu bandh call till August 8. Â
According to Jammu divisional commissioner Sudhanshu Pandey, the curfew was imposed in Rajouri and Bhaderwah on Sunday while Udhampur district was brought under curfew restrictions late on Saturday night.
Reports reaching here said tension prevailed in Doda district and police force was deployed in sensitive areas to prevent any untoward incident.
Meanwhile, Army stationed in Jammu staged flag march in sensitive areas.
In curfew-bound Jammu, trouble started early on Sunday morning when district authorities prohibited transmission of JK Channel and also seized equipment used for operation of cable television network under section 11 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995. The District Magistrate noted in its order dated August 2, 2008 that the channel has been glorifying violence/communal hatred, regional disaffection in its reporting and airing panel discussions and interviews without editing to conform to the provisions of section 5 of the Act.
Massive protests started soon after outside the office of the cable channel where police force clashed with agitators. Senior special correspondent of Aaj Tak Ashwini Kumar, camera team of Aaj Tak, NDTV and a few others were injured in police action. Another local channel, Take I, was also blacked out by the DM on similar grounds.
Meanwhile, intensifying its agitation, leaders of the Sangharsh Samiti on Sunday extended Jammu bandh till August 8, making it clear that the agitation would continue till forest land was restored to the Amarnath Shrine Board. Large number of local residents defied curfew at several places in Jammu and burnt tyres in the middle of the road.
In Rajouri, Doda, Bhaderwah and Udhampur, protesters took out rallies and demanded removal of Governor NN Vohra.
Several local Congress leaders and former legislators too are joining the ongoing agitation in Jammu and have started demanding removal of the Governor.
Raising questions over banning transmission of local news channels, several local residents in Jammu and agitators dubbed it as a desperate attempt by the authorities to suppress the voice of the people. Agitators who reached hospital to enquire about the well being of mediapersons injured in the attack expressed their anger and alleged that the district administration had selectively attacked senior mediapersons in Jammu to gag the media.
Chief Secretary SS Kapur, however, clarified that the two channel operators were twice called by the administration and asked not to transmit the content that flared up passions and violence. He said they were advised to stick to the programme code as given in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. He said they were also issued notices under the law. However, he said the two channels continued to transmit highly objectionable and provocative material upon which the District Magistrate had ordered prohibition of transmission on these channels. Meanwhile, several social, religious and political organisations have also condemned police action on mediapersons.
At least 37 people were injured in Sunday clashes, according to PTI. SMS service of mobile operators was suspended in view of fast spreading rumours. Two Hindi dailies were also sealed.
Protesters came out in violation of curfew restrictions at Domana, Janipur, Muthi, Bantalab, Satwari, Gandhinagar, Gangyal, Bakshi Nagar, Shakti Nagar, Samba, Bari Brahamana, Canal Road in Jammu and Samba districts despite flag marches.
Over three companies of police swooped over the office of JK TV channel in Gandhinagar to force its closure following a Government notice. In a melee, 10 people, including two journalists and City SDPO Sawtanter Arora were injured. Four houses were burnt in RS Pura belt and four trucks damaged in stone pelting in Hiranagar.
At least 17 protesters were injured in other clashes, including some that took place overnight, with police in Gagwal, Lakhanpur, Bakshinagar and Shaktinagar areas of Jammu.
<b>Twelve Army columns were deployed in Jammu, nine in Samba, five in Kathua and seven in Udhampur districts.</b>
Late in the night, however, the Jammu district magistrate lifted the ban on transmission of local cable channel ending the 10-hour-long blackout across Jammu and Kashmir. The decision was taken by the DM after an assurance was given by the local cable channels that they would abide by Cable Television Networks (Regulation)Act 1995 and follow it in letter and spirit.
<b>Take immediate steps, Rajnath tells Sonia</b>
New Delhi: BJP president Rajnath Singh has told Congress president Sonia Gandhi that she must take steps to resolve the controversy over Amarnath land allotment issue. The Congress president had called upon the BJP counterpart seeking support of the latter to defuse tension in Jammu region. Sonia Gandhi wanted Rajnath Singh to pacify the protesters who are staging demonstration in the Jammu region for the past one month. In return, Rajnath Singh told Sonia that it was for the first time that Jammu is on the boil. He told the Congress president that the land allotment case has now become an emotive issue and the Government must take note of it. Rajnath told Sonia that his party was ready to extend any help to the Government in resolving the crisis, but it was the prime responsibility of the Government to take note of the concerns raised by the people of Jammu region.
He also demanded that the land plot which was allotted to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and taken away later is immediately returned to the board.
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Pioneer.com
Mohit Kandhari | Jammu
<b>Curfew imposed in Rajouri, Bhaderwah, Udhampur</b>
The agitation over the Amarnath land transfer issue is fast spreading to other districts in Jammu region. On Sunday, the State administration clamped curfew in two more districts of Rajouri and Udhampur and Bhaderwah town of Doda district to prevent any untoward incident. The district magistrate in Jammu blacked out local TV news channel to crush mass movement of people, which entered 33rd day. Meanwhile, the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti intensified its agitation further by extending Jammu bandh call till August 8. Â
According to Jammu divisional commissioner Sudhanshu Pandey, the curfew was imposed in Rajouri and Bhaderwah on Sunday while Udhampur district was brought under curfew restrictions late on Saturday night.
Reports reaching here said tension prevailed in Doda district and police force was deployed in sensitive areas to prevent any untoward incident.
Meanwhile, Army stationed in Jammu staged flag march in sensitive areas.
In curfew-bound Jammu, trouble started early on Sunday morning when district authorities prohibited transmission of JK Channel and also seized equipment used for operation of cable television network under section 11 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995. The District Magistrate noted in its order dated August 2, 2008 that the channel has been glorifying violence/communal hatred, regional disaffection in its reporting and airing panel discussions and interviews without editing to conform to the provisions of section 5 of the Act.
Massive protests started soon after outside the office of the cable channel where police force clashed with agitators. Senior special correspondent of Aaj Tak Ashwini Kumar, camera team of Aaj Tak, NDTV and a few others were injured in police action. Another local channel, Take I, was also blacked out by the DM on similar grounds.
Meanwhile, intensifying its agitation, leaders of the Sangharsh Samiti on Sunday extended Jammu bandh till August 8, making it clear that the agitation would continue till forest land was restored to the Amarnath Shrine Board. Large number of local residents defied curfew at several places in Jammu and burnt tyres in the middle of the road.
In Rajouri, Doda, Bhaderwah and Udhampur, protesters took out rallies and demanded removal of Governor NN Vohra.
Several local Congress leaders and former legislators too are joining the ongoing agitation in Jammu and have started demanding removal of the Governor.
Raising questions over banning transmission of local news channels, several local residents in Jammu and agitators dubbed it as a desperate attempt by the authorities to suppress the voice of the people. Agitators who reached hospital to enquire about the well being of mediapersons injured in the attack expressed their anger and alleged that the district administration had selectively attacked senior mediapersons in Jammu to gag the media.
Chief Secretary SS Kapur, however, clarified that the two channel operators were twice called by the administration and asked not to transmit the content that flared up passions and violence. He said they were advised to stick to the programme code as given in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. He said they were also issued notices under the law. However, he said the two channels continued to transmit highly objectionable and provocative material upon which the District Magistrate had ordered prohibition of transmission on these channels. Meanwhile, several social, religious and political organisations have also condemned police action on mediapersons.
At least 37 people were injured in Sunday clashes, according to PTI. SMS service of mobile operators was suspended in view of fast spreading rumours. Two Hindi dailies were also sealed.
Protesters came out in violation of curfew restrictions at Domana, Janipur, Muthi, Bantalab, Satwari, Gandhinagar, Gangyal, Bakshi Nagar, Shakti Nagar, Samba, Bari Brahamana, Canal Road in Jammu and Samba districts despite flag marches.
Over three companies of police swooped over the office of JK TV channel in Gandhinagar to force its closure following a Government notice. In a melee, 10 people, including two journalists and City SDPO Sawtanter Arora were injured. Four houses were burnt in RS Pura belt and four trucks damaged in stone pelting in Hiranagar.
At least 17 protesters were injured in other clashes, including some that took place overnight, with police in Gagwal, Lakhanpur, Bakshinagar and Shaktinagar areas of Jammu.
<b>Twelve Army columns were deployed in Jammu, nine in Samba, five in Kathua and seven in Udhampur districts.</b>
Late in the night, however, the Jammu district magistrate lifted the ban on transmission of local cable channel ending the 10-hour-long blackout across Jammu and Kashmir. The decision was taken by the DM after an assurance was given by the local cable channels that they would abide by Cable Television Networks (Regulation)Act 1995 and follow it in letter and spirit.
<b>Take immediate steps, Rajnath tells Sonia</b>
New Delhi: BJP president Rajnath Singh has told Congress president Sonia Gandhi that she must take steps to resolve the controversy over Amarnath land allotment issue. The Congress president had called upon the BJP counterpart seeking support of the latter to defuse tension in Jammu region. Sonia Gandhi wanted Rajnath Singh to pacify the protesters who are staging demonstration in the Jammu region for the past one month. In return, Rajnath Singh told Sonia that it was for the first time that Jammu is on the boil. He told the Congress president that the land allotment case has now become an emotive issue and the Government must take note of it. Rajnath told Sonia that his party was ready to extend any help to the Government in resolving the crisis, but it was the prime responsibility of the Government to take note of the concerns raised by the people of Jammu region.
He also demanded that the land plot which was allotted to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and taken away later is immediately returned to the board.
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