JU, educational institutions closed in Jammu region, RAF stages route march

RAF personnel stage route march in Poonch on Sunday. —Excelsior/Gurjitbhajan
RAF personnel stage route march in Poonch on Sunday. —Excelsior/Gurjitbhajan

Curfew like restrictions in Valley, Sec 144 in Jammu; internet shut

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 4: Reasonable restrictions were being imposed and mobile internet services were suspended in most parts of Jammu region tonight while educational institutions were ordered to be closed in entire province for tomorrow as Rapid Action Force (RAF) and para-military forces were deployed in some sensitive areas in anticipation of an announcement on Jammu and Kashmir by the Central Government anytime now.

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Official sources told the Excelsior tonight that “reasonable restrictions” have been imposed in some parts of Jammu region for tomorrow while a final decision on the type of restrictions will be taken tomorrow morning depending upon the situation.
Educational institutions including schools and colleges, both private and Government have been closed for tomorrow in entire Jammu province, sources said, adding that the concerned Deputy Commissioners have issued orders in this regard for their respective districts.

“Schools and colleges have been closed as precautionary measures,” they said, adding that telephone companies have been asked to shut mobile internet services in most of the districts in Jammu region. Broadband services, however, will remain functional.
In Jammu district, Deputy Commissioner, Sushma Chouhan tonight ordered imposition of Section 144 prohibiting assembly of four or more people for any reason from 6 am tomorrow morning in entire district.
Sources said the District Magistrates of all districts have been asked to monitor the situation and take decision on imposition of restrictions depending upon the situation.
The University of Jammu will remain closed tomorrow.
“All Under Graduate and Post Graduate examinations to be held on August 5 have been postponed. Fresh dates will be notified later,” an official handout issued by the Jammu University said.
Earlier in the day, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and additional companies of para-military forces continued to move towards sensitive areas of Jammu region and also staged route march in some of the areas as precautionary measure while situation all across the province remained completely peaceful.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the additional companies of RAF and para-military forces have been deployed in strength in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch districts while in rest of the districts, additional deployment was less. However, teams of RAF and para-military companies have also been stationed in Jammu.
Senior police officers in Jammu Zone and all 10 districts of the region were personally monitoring deployment of additional companies of para-military forces and RAF in the sensitive areas.
Duty magistrates have been posted in most of the districts.
The RAF personnel joined by para-military forces and local police staged route march in Poonch town during the day. Para-military forces also staged similar march in Rajouri town and other areas.
However, situation all across the Jammu region was completely peaceful, sources said, adding that panic buying of petrol and essential commodities was reported from very limited areas while life remained as usual in most parts of the region. However, today being Sunday, most of the business markets were closed.
Sources said in Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Doda, Ramban, Banihal, Gool, Batote and other towns of erstwhile Doda district, the para-military companies and jawans of the Rapid Action Force remained stationed in strength and also staged route march in few areas.
In majority of areas, the Rapid Action Force and additional companies of para-military forces remained stationed at different places including the district headquarters and will be moved out only if the situation warrants.
Normal services remained unaffected in Jammu region during th day with all flights, trains, inter-State and local buses plying normally. Even pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji was normal with around 20,000 yatris visiting the shrine to pay their obeisance to the Goddess without any fear.
It may be mentioned here that only yesterday, authorities had suspended pilgrimage to Machail Mata Ji shrine in Kishtwar district and Kounsar Nag in Reasi. The Bajrang Dal had also called off the annual Budda Amarnath Ji pilgrimage in Poonch districts.
Traffic on major National Highways and roads in Jammu region was also normal in the day.
People, however, remained glued to their television sets watching the news awaiting an announcement.
Reports received from Leh and Kargil said life was completely normal in entire Ladakh region and there was no kind of panic. Even additional companies of para-military forces haven’t been deployed in Leh. However, additional companies of Jammu and Kashmir Police were stationed in Kargil and Leh district headquarters.

Guv, Advisors monitor situation
Governor Satya Pal Malik held midnight emergency meeting at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar to discuss prevailing situation in the State.
All four Advisors, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh and other senior police officers were present at the meeting.
Security and law and order situation across the State were being monitored closely by the Governor, sources said.

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