Bhaderwah (Doda), Oct 15: Life returned to normal in this frontier town on Saturday  after the former Chief Minister of JK and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad intervened to pacify members of two communities, who were at loggerheads over alleged “objectionable” remarks by a History teacher of Government Degree College (GDC) Bhaderwah.
 Business establishments reopened after remaining closed for 3-days, while traffic plied normally.  
 Azad reportedly played a key role to restore peace in his hometown by holding series of meetings with the prominent citizens and religious groups of both the communities after his arrival in the township, sources said.
 Azad, who flew to Bhaderwah on Friday, reviewed the situation this morning and asked the members of both the communities to maintain communal harmony and brotherhood, sources said. “He (Azad) interacted with representatives of both communities for about two hours and intervened to defuse the tension in the town.”
 Elders of both communities, sources said, assured Azad and officials that peace would be restored and they would abide by the magisterial inquiry ordered by the administration.
 Sources said the district administration also convened a separate meeting of senior leaders of both the communities and shared its deep concern over the clashes which broke out in the aftermath of a “trivial issue” that left over a dozen people injured.
 “Officials also approached the college students and management, seeking their cooperation to maintain peace and harmony,” they added.
 Pertinently, tension had gripped Bhaderwah town on Wednesday after a College Professor had passed some objectionable remarks against a particular community.
 Doda, Bhaderwah, Gandoh and Kishtwar towns had also observed a shutdown and demonstrations at some places against the remarks of Professor.
  Later in the evening, Azad also undertook a tour of the Bhaderwah market and held interaction met the locals, appealing them not to flare up any communal tension and maintain communal harmony. He also reviewed the development activities being undertaken in Bhaderwah town.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 15 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:00:00 IST