Jammu, July 26: At least 30 persons, including 18 policemen were injured during violent clashes between protesters and police on Monday in Samba town, about 40 kms from here.
 The district administration requisitioned army to be deployed in enforcing strict restrictions in the town which witnessed clashes over alleged bovine smuggling in the area.
 Reports said that the agitated mob accused police of conniving with the bovine smugglers.
 Though there was curfew like situation in the area, the district administration denied enforcement of curfew, saying “Only Section 144 CrPC has been imposed to prevent the people from resorting to violent protests and damaging the public property.”
 Reports said six persons, including cops were critically injured in stone pelting and tear smoke shells and lathicharge.
 Police said violent mob went on rampage and damaged several vehicles allegedly belonging to a particular community.
 The protests took place in the town after an alleged bovine smuggler was reportedly apprehended by the locals late Sunday night.
 He was handed over to the police after being given severe thrashing.
 A large number of people took to roads Monday morning and staged a protest demonstration on Jammu-Pathankote highway throwing the vehicular movement out of gear.
 Unconfirmed reports said several Gujjar kothas were set ablaze by the mob.
 The situation turned violent when some of the protestors attacked some vehicles.
 The vehicular movement on the highway remained disrupted for more than nine hours leading to complete chaos.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Samba, Sourabh Bhagat said that situation was under control after the section 144 CrPC was imposed along the NH-1A. The restrictions were imposed to restore smooth flow of traffic on the highway.”
 “The Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr Pawan Kotwal and IGP Ashok Gupta were on the spot for whole day and assured the people for action against the smuggler. They also assured for immediate suspension of SHO Samba but some miscreants in the unruly mob was not ready for it and they demanded transfer of SSP Samba which is the jurisdiction of Cabinet,” Bhagat said.
 Surjit Singh Salathia, Minister for Industries and Devender Singh Rana, Political Advisor to Chief Minister flew to Jammu from Srinagar and rushed to the Samba town to assess the situation.
 The DC Samba said the SHO has been attached to IGP office but he has not been transferred as yet. “As far as the demand of transfer of SSP Samba is concerned, it is privilege of higher authorities,” he maintained.  
 He however, lamented that the leaders of some political parties wanted to keep the pot boiling in Jammu as well. “It was a stray incident of bovine smuggling and they caught hold of one of the smugglers. We assured them for immediate suspension of concerned SHO but they were adamant on transfer of SSP,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST