Hundreds of stranded passengers from Kashmir Tuesday staged a massive protest outside the Jammu airport and demanded their immediate airlifting to Srinagar, even as college and university students in the winter capital deferred their agitation after the police assured action against those who raised “anti-India slogans” during a scuffle yesterday.
A witness said the police deployed outside the airport did not allow the protesting passengers to enter its premises. However, he said, owing to intensified protests, a steel railing at a ticketing counter at the airport was damaged.
A spokesperson of Jammu airport said around 500 people tried to enter the airport premises.
“The security personnel had a tough time to manage the protesters. Additional forces were sought to handle the situation. The protesters dispersed after two hours,” he said.
Following the chaos, the police appealed to the passengers not to pay heed to rumours that any registration (for airlifting) is taking place anywhere.
“Stranded Kashmiri passengers have started going to various offices and locations to avail facility of airlifting and/or registering themselves for the same. We request people not to leave their places as no such registration is going on anywhere in Jammu,” senior superintendent of police, Jammu, Tajinder Singh said.
Meanwhile, thousands of college students staged a protest and demanded arrest of those Kashmiri passengers who allegedly raised pro-Pakistan slogans in Jammu on Monday.
Students from various City colleges and Jammu University boycotted their classes and staged demonstrations in their institutions, seeking stern action against “miscreants who raised the anti-India slogans”.
Later, all students assembled at Canal Road, Jewel Chowk, Tawi Bridge and Bikram Chowk areas, where they staged sit-ins, which caused massive traffic jams.
Carrying tri-colour, the students raised slogans “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram.” They also raised anti-Pakistan slogans.
A student leader Vijay Chaudhary said a case should be registered against stranded Kashmiri passengers who “raised anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans.”
“They should be arrested. This will not be allowed in Jammu”, he said.
The protesters said they will continue to boycott their classes until action is not taken against those who raised the anti-India slogans.
However, SSP Singh assured the students that action would be taken if anyone was found involved in raising “anti-national” slogans. On SSP’s assurance, the students deferred their strike for two days.