M A I N   N E W S

Amarnath Land Row
Two killed in Samba firing
Docs back agitation; ban on TV channels lifted
Perneet Singh
Tribune News Service

Army personnel ask people to stay indoors in the strife-torn Jammu. — Tribune photo by Anand Sharma

Jammu, August 4
Two persons were killed when the police reportedly opened fire on the protesters, who hit the streets defying curfew in Samba today. At least 20 persons, including policemen and CRPF personnel, were injured in the clashes.

Continuing their agitation over the Amarnath land row, the protesters converged at the Main Chowk and tried to block traffic on the Jammu-Pathankot highway.

They reportedly pelted the cops with stones, following which the police and the CRPF personnel lobbed tear gas shells and resorted to cane-charging to disperse the mob. Unable to control the situation, the police opened fire at the protesters.

An injured person being shifted to the Government Medical Hospital in Jammu on Monday. — Tribune photo by Anand Sharma

Three of the injured were rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, in a critical condition, of which two succumbed to their injuries. The deceased have been identified as Sanjeev Singh (30), alias Bunty, a resident of Sanwali Mandi, and Dayani resident Sunny Padha (24).

According to the police, the third person, Prabhu Dayal, suffered injuries during stone-pelting. Around 2,000 persons came out on the Jammu-Pathankot highway at various points between Bari Brahmana and Samba in protest against the killings.

Samba deputy commissioner Sourav Bhagat said the protesters had “tried to attack the SSP and his security personnel, following which the latter fired in self-defence.”

He said the situation was tense and the Army had been asked to stage a flag march. He said the duty magistrate had not issued any orders for the firing, adding that they would investigate the matter.

The Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti condemned the killings.

Meanwhile, no violence was reported in Jammu when the curfew was relaxed for three hours - from 5 am to 8 am today.

People thronged the markets to buy essential commodities. After the relaxation came to an end, the Army staged a flag march in the sensitive areas.

However, the agitators defied curfew and took out protest rallies in Muthi, Moti Bazar and other areas in the city.

The agitation also drew support from doctors, nurses and other staff of the government hospitals, who took mass casual leave for a day to express their solidarity with the protesters.

The administration last night lifted the ban imposed on two cable TV channels- JK Channel and Take 1, following an agreement with the managements of both the channels.