Headlines
Sikhs end protests in Jammu, army withdrawn
Jammu, June 6
Life began limping to normalcy
here on Saturday as authorities withdrew the army from areas that saw
street protests over the removal of posters of Sikh militant Jarnail
Singh Bhindranwale.
Members of the Sikh community ended their
dragging demonstrations after reaching a deal with the Jammu
administration late Friday.
"The army has been withdrawn from the
affected areas," a senior official told IANS here. Curfew imposed in
the troubled places was lifted.
The removal of the Bhindranwale
posters triggered protests here this week, leading to the death of a
young man in firing by security forces.
This fuelled more
protests in larger areas, prompting authorities to call in the army. An
indefinite curfew was imposed in parts of Jammu.
On Saturday,
markets, public transport and other businesses in the areas of Satwari,
Digiana, Nanak Nagar and Talab Tillo began functioning normally.
However,
fewer private vehicles were on the roads. Internet connectivity,
suspended by the district magistrate, has been restored.
But as a
precaution, all educational institutions will remain closed in Jammu,
Poonch, Samba, Kathua and Rajouri districts on Saturday, the official
said.
Following the agreement with the Sikh community,
authorities transferred Jammu's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)
Uttam Chand and placed under suspension the head of the Satwari police
station, Kulbir Singh, pending an inquiry into the firing that left a
Sikh youth dead.
An FIR was also registered in Satwari police
station against the Jammu SSP's security guards who allegedly opened
fire at the Sikh youth.
Authorities have announced an ex-gratia of Rs.5 lakh and a government job to the next of kin of the slain youth.