Curfew continues in Mendhar, Poonch towns
Army conducted a flag-march in violence-hit Mendhar town of Poonch district where curfew continued in some places on Thursday after three persons were killed in police firing to quell a mob trying to set ablaze a missionary school. Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered a high level probe and booked a sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) along with five security men in connection with the firing. "Curfew continues in Poonch and Mendhar border towns of Poonch district. Curfew entered third consecutive day in Poonch and second day in Mendhar", police officials said. The law and order situation is tense in Mendhar but under control, they said. Army staged a flag march in the violence-hit town on Wednesday night. Three persons were killed and 13 others were injured when police opened fire on a mob trying to set ablaze a missionary school while protesting the alleged desecration of a holy book in Mendhar town on Wednesday. Senior divisional level officials including divisional commissioner, Jammu province, Pawan Kotwal and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu zone, Ashok Gupta along with legistors -Javed Rana, M.R. Quarishi, Mustaq Bukhari and Rashpal Singh were camping in the town. As tension and protests continued in the town, Army officials late last night facilitated a meeting between irate senior citizens and families of the deceased persons, state government officials and legislators at the Army camp, defence sources said. The protestors were demanding registration of a case against the police, their suspension and their arrest in connection with the firing, they said, adding authorities later registered a case against SDPO Vivek Gupta and five of his body-guards - Abdul Hameed, Gyas Khan, Vishal Sharma, Mohmmad Ilyas and Mohmad Asi and attached them. Police registered cases under section 302 and 34 Ranbir Panel Code (RPC) against them for unprovoked firing on peaceful protesters, they said. Government has also ordered a probe headed by the Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal, they said.
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