Curfew continues in Kishtwar, relaxed in parts of Jammu

Curfew continued on Tuesday in Kishtwar for the sixth day running, even as restrictions were partially lifted in Samba district and other areas of Jammu region, which were witness to recent incidents of communal clashes.

"There was no relaxation of the curfew in Kishtwar. The decision to relax the curfew is taken keeping in view the situation on the ground, which is being reviewed regularly," said Kishtwar District Magistrate Baseer Khan.

"There are no reports of any untoward incidents in the past 24 hours," Khan added.

Curfew in the border district of Samba was lifted today, a senior police officer said, adding that Indian Army personnel have now been withdrawn from the area. Curfew was also lifted in the border town of Sunderbani in Rajouri district.

The curfew was relaxed for between three to eight hours in Jammu (south), Rajouri, Bhaderwah, Udhampur, Reasi, Billawar, Bani, Basholi, Kathua and Sunderbani, police said.

But restrictions continued in the Old City and eastern areas of Jammu, in parts of Rajouri town, at Thathri and in the Gandoh area of Doda district.

"The curfew has been relaxed in several areas at different timings. In Jammu region, the southern part was given a relaxation, along with a portion of Rajouri today," said Jammu Zone Divisional Commissioner Shantmanu.

He said that the curfew may be briefly relaxed in Kishtwar on Thursday in view of Independence Day celebrations.

But internet services for mobile phone and wi-fi users remained suspended for the fourth day today across Jammu and Kashmir. Internet speeds for broadband services, too, were reduced with a view to checking the upload of objectionable material on social networking sites, official sources said.

Image: Policemen stand guard at a street during a curfew following riots in Jammu ' Photograph: Reuters