Jammu, August 29
Nine officials were today suspended for allegedly inciting communal clashes in Kishtwar district on August 12 that left two persons dead.

"We have suspended nine government officials for inciting public by their provocative statements and triggering communal clashes in the district on August 12," Sudarshan Sharma, deputy commissioner of Kishtwar, said.

A magisterial probe had also been ordered into the clashes and those found guilty would be severely punished, he added. The action against the officials has been initiated on the basis of a report submitted by the SP which accused them of making provocative speeches in public and inciting communal trouble there.

The officials suspended have been identified as Hafiza, Rajesh Kumar Parihar, Aijaz Ahmed, Mushtaq Ahmed, Chander Shekhar, Mansoor Shah, Imtiyaz Ahmed, Deepak Kumar and Aijaz Akhter. Two persons were killed and 30 injured in the clashes.

Curfew was clamped in the town with the authorities issuing the shoot-at-sight order after the clashes. — PTI