Jammu, July 6
Even as the curfew was relaxed in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts today, violent protests continued in different parts of the winter capital.

The administration relaxed the curfew from 6 am to 8 am and then again from 4 pm to 6 pm in Jammu city. Violent protests broke out in Janipur, Gangyal, Phallan Mandal, Kunjwani and Gadigarh areas.

Protesters pelted stones in these localities, following which the police retaliated with lathicharge and teargas shells. Scores of agitators were injured in the clashes that followed the protests.

Members of the displaced Kashmiri community also took out a protest march in Muthi for the sixth consecutive day. Similarly, protesters at Manhasa Chowk and Trewa defied curfew and burnt the Chief Minister's effigy.

Kathua, which had been witnessing violent protests for the last couple of days, was peaceful today. Curfew was relaxed from 11 am to 1 pm and again from 6 pm to 8 pm. Activists of the BJP, the Shiv Sena and the VHP staged a peaceful protest in the town following the relaxation in curfew.

ADC D.R. Sharma said though they would review the situation in the evening, the curfew is likely to be extended for another 48 hours.

Similarly, in Samba too, curfew was relaxed from 8 am to 9 am. The relaxation in Vijaypur and Ramgarh was from 7 am to 8 am, while it was 9 am to 10 am in Bari Brahmana. DC Sourav Bhagat said the relaxation was also extended to three hours at some places. He said in view of the response they were contemplating lifting curfew totally from tomorrow.

Meanwhile, president of the All-Jammu and Kashmir Oil Tankers Association Anan Sharma denied reports that the association has relaxed its boycott of transportation of oil products to Kashmir.

He, however, admitted that 40 tankers belonging to Kashmir-based dealers, carrying petrol and diesel have left for the valley. He also claimed that some of these tankers were targeted with stones while on their way to Srinagar.

He said the association was only catering to Jammu region and Army formations as of now. The boycott was very much on, he added. “The tankers that have gone to the valley belong to the people who are close to some Congress leaders,” he said.

Sharma said most of the 165 tankers filled on July 4-5 have either been sent in the Jammu region or Army formations in Kargil, Leh, Drass and other places. The association went on strike after some of their tankers were damaged and drivers thrashed during protests over the Amarnath land transfer issue in the valley.