Amarnath row: Curfew clamped in Poonch after violence

JAMMU: Curfew was on Friday imposed and Army staged a flag march in the border town of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir as a precautionary measure following incidents of violence and tension over the Amarnath land transfer issue.

"Curfew has been imposed in Poonch town following some incidents of violence and stone pelting there on Thursday. It is a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incident," an official spokesperson said

He said that the Army also conducted flag march in certain areas of the town.

Activists of the Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti (SASS), spearheading the agitation, had on Thursday forced closure of schools, other educational institutes, government offices and banks in Poonch.

They also indulged in stone pelting on post offices and the telephone exchange in a bid to close down Central government establishments in the town.

Curfew has been imposed in the border town for the first time since the beginning of the agitation on the Amarnath issue in June.

Meanwhile, the four-member committee formed by Jammu & Kashmir Governor N N Vohra has initiated a dialogue with Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti. But chances of an early breakthrough look bleak.

SASS spokesperson Tilak Raj Sharma said: ������The administration should first find out whether the committee has a programme to address the sentiments of the people of Jammu. Dialogue should not necessarily be to stop the agitation, but to resolve the issue.������ He said the agitation will continue until land is restored to SASB.

The BJP has decided to move the Amarnath land-for-pilgrims case onto the national stage. Leader of Opposition L K Advani will perform aradhana rituals on a fabricated Shivaling at a rally in Delhi on Saturday which will also be addressed by senior leaders from the saffron party.