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Jammu, two more areas under siege
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ASIANAGE on 08 August, 2008 02:52:34
 
BY SHUCHISMITA
Jammu
Aug. 8: The entire Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts in Jammu region are under
siege with the Army plugging entry points of almost every locality with barbed
wires and tapes.
Heavy presence of the Army, besides the CRPF and Rapid Action Force (RAF), has
been able to contain violence in the region to a great extent but has failed to
stop massive yet peaceful protests defying curfew in force since August 1 on
account of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board land transfer row. Particularly in
the city outskirts, the people came out in thousands defying the curfew to
participate in the protest rallies. At some places, the barbed wires erected by
the Army have proved an effective barrier to limit the number of protesters to a
few hundreds but at times they have turned out to be simply ineffective.
Predominantly in a situation when the protesters in thousands carrying
tricolours and chanting "Bam Bam Bhole" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and raising
slogans against governor and Kashmir-based leaders start marching from different
localities to converge at one particular point. To dodge the security personnel,
they resort to different tactics. They don’t mind even diving to the nearby
water bodies as a shortcut to reach their destination if are unable to cross the
barbed obstructions created almost at every point or dodge vigilant security
personnel.
Interestingly, while the protesters avoid direct clashes with the Army and
other Central forces, just a glimpse of the local police makes them go violent,
particularly in the city outskirts. To avoid this, the Army personnel are being
used as the first line of defence as per a strategy to prevent violent clashes.
Given this scenario, the Army is faced with a piquant situation in this
agitation. Around 40 columns of the Army have been deployed in the Jammu region
in the wake of the ongoing agitation.