Day curfew lifted in Kishtwar a week after killing of RSS leader

Day curfew was lifted from the communally sensitive Kishtwar township of Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday after remaining in force for a week following the killing of a senior RSS leader and his security guard, a senior government official said.

However, night curfew along with prohibitory orders undersection 144 CrPC banning assembly of more than four persons will remain inforce in the town and adjoining areas as a precautionary measure to maintainlaw and order, District Development Commissioner, Kishtwar, Angrez Singh Ranatold PTI.

   

Curfew was promulgated in the town and adjoining areas onApril 9 after the attack on senior RSS leader Chanderkant Sharma and hissecurity guard inside a health centre, triggering violent protests.

With the improvement in the situation, the day curfew waslifted from 6 am today. The Army has also been withdrawn from the town and adjoiningareas, Rana said.

Curfew was relaxed initially for three hours in the entiretown from 12 pm to 3 pm and later from 5 pm to 6.30 pm on Monday and therelaxation period passed off peacefully with no untoward incident reported fromanywhere, prompting authorities to consider lifting of restrictions, he said.

However, officials said a group of people staged a peacefulprotest in the town briefly seeking action against those behind the murder ofthe RSS leader. Protesters dispersed after senior civil and police officersassured them that efforts are on to nab the culprits.

Rana said police and paramilitary forces will remaindeployed in strength in sensitive areas of the town to maintain law and order.

The killing of the RSS leader triggered violent protest withprotesters ransacking the office of the senior superintendent of police,forcing authorities to impose strict curfew in the town and adjoining areasbesides suspending Internet services in the entire Chenab valley comprisingKishtwar, Doda and Rajouri districts.

While Internet services were restored in Doda and Rambandistricts on Friday night, the service was also restored in Kishtwar on Mondaywith the improvement in the situation.

Police had picked up several over ground worker (OGWs) forinterrogation in connection with the killing of Sharma and his PSO and alsoseized the car used in the attack.

Police also released a photograph of the car owner, ZahidHussain, who is absconding.

Kishtwar, which is part of the Udhampur Lok Sabha seat, goesto polls on April 18.

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