Curfew continues in Jammu, Internet services suspended

Jammu: An indefinite curfew imposed in parts of Jammu following violence over Sikh militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's posters continued for a second day on Friday.

Authorities also ordered the suspension of Internet services to check the spread of rumours in Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

The curfew was clamped on Thursday in Satwari and Mirian Sahib areas of the city.

Educational institutions in the five districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch remained closed on Friday.

Jammu District Magistrate Simranjeet Singh on Friday ordered service providers to suspend Internet in Jammu district, both on landline and mobile networks.

He also imposed prohibitory orders banning the assembly of five or more people all over Jammu.

Street protests erupted in many places here on Friday morning as Sikhs again took to the streets to demand action against those responsible for the killing of a Sikh youth.

Jagjit Singh, son of Narvir Singh, was killed in police firing on Sikh protesters at Gadigarh area on Thursday.

The army patrolled Digiana and Satwari areas in the city. Police and paramilitary forces were also deployed in other sensitive areas.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has named Ashkoor Wani the new deputy inspector general of Jammu-Kathua range.

Protesters on Thursday snatched an AK-47 rifle from a special police officer in Digiana in Jammu city. They wanted action against a police sub-inspector who had removed posters of Bhindranwale on Wednesday.

"We have launched a manhunt to trace the culprit and recover the weapon," a police officer said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti condoled the youth's death and appealed for peace in Jammu.