Pir Panchal and Chenab Valley observed complete shutdown on Friday, in solidarity with the CRPF soldiers who were killed on Thursday after a suicide bomber rammed his car into a convoy in Lethpora area along the Srinagar-Jammu highway.
The internet services remained snapped across the twin border regions.
In Pir Panchal region, protests against the militant attack were staged in both Rajouri and Poonch districts and the Jammu-Poonch highway remained blocked for several hours, at multiple places.
In Rajouri, the market bore a deserted look as the residents as well as local traders from Jawahar Nagar, main town, GujjarMandi and Salani staged protests and blocked the roads, refusing to let anyone ply their vehicles.
The bandh call in Rajouri was given by SanatanDharamSabha and it was supported by all sections of society as well as Muslim organizations. Several protest rallies were taken out in various parts of the district.
“We condemn the attack, in which so many of our brave hearts were killed,” the leaders of several Muslim organizations said, while taking out a protest rally.
Besides Rajouri town, the markets of Kalakote, Nowshera and Sunderbani also observed a complete shutdown. The people also staged demonstrations against the incident, while condemning it.
Meanwhile, the Jammu-Poonch highway was also blocked at a number of places in Rajouri district. The residents of Sunderbani town blocked the highway at SunderbaniChowk for over five hours, while the residents of Lamberi blocked the highway for over three hours in their respective area.
Similarly, at workshop bridge near Rajouri town, the protesters blocked the main highway and burnt effigies of Pakistan’s prime minister. They also raised slogans against the militant outfit.
At Thandikassi area of Rajouri, the locals staged massive protests against Pakistan as well as militant outfits. They demanded stern action against the people who were behind the incident.
At Muradpur and Kallar area as well, the locals staged massive protest and blocked the highway for hours. The case was the same in Mendhar town, where the people from all sections of society took out a protest rally in the morning and held a sit-in at MendharChowk.
The people raised deep concern over the incident and demanded that strong steps should be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
Poonch district also observed a complete shutdown and registered their protest. Besides, multiple protests were also held and rallies were taken out across the Poonch town.
In Chenab Valley, to express their resentment over the militant attack, the hilly border region observed a partial shutdown.
The activists of BJP, VHP and ABVP held protests at Bhaderwah. While raising anti-Pakistan slogans, the protesters also burnt tyres at Seri Bazaar and demanded strict action against the culprits.
Meanwhile, shops and other business establishments of particular community remained closed in Bhaderwah, Doda and Kishtwar, however, government offices and banks functioned as usual and traffic plied normally.
Elaborate security arrangements were made in all the major towns of district Doda and Kishtwar.
Meanwhile, the Chenab Valley traders association, Bar Kishtwar, condemned the attack on the CRPF convoy.
In Kishtwar, a protest was staged by BJP and RSS workers opposite the Court Complex.
In Ramban, all business establishments remained shut in the district headquarter town as well as the peripheries. However, vehicles plied normally, banks and government offices functioned as usual.
Heightened security arrangements were put in place and central security forces and Jammu and Kashmir police were deployed at crucial areas.
The civil society members appealed people to maintain communal harmony and not to become a part of the conspiracy of vested interests, who are hell bent upon creating a wedge among communities.
Later, a candle march was also taken out in the old district headquarter town to pay homage to slain soldiers.
(With inputs from Dar Mohsin, MM Parvaiz)