Jammu, August 11
One more person died, while three others were injured in fresh clashes in Padder late yesterday following the riots in Kishtwar. The state government clamped indefinite curfew in five more districts of the Jammu region and called out the Army to prevent escalation of communal violence across the region.

The injured have been hospitalised in the Army Command Hospital in Udhampur, said state Home Secretary Suresh Kumar. Reports said three injured sustained gunshot wounds.

On the situation in Padder, Jammu Divisional Commissioner Shantmanu said one person died there last night. “His post-mortem examination is being conducted and the area has been placed under curfew. The Army has also been sent there,” said the Jammu province head.

“Curfew has been clamped in eight districts, but there is no curfew in Ramban and Poonch districts as of now,” he said. Independent sources identified him as Lassa, son of Mohammado of Kaijai Padder. Padder is some 298 km from Jammu.

With one more death, the number of those killed has risen to three and the number of those injured in the Kishtwar clashes has increased to seven.

The total number of districts placed under curfew across the Jammu region has risen to eight. The districts are: Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, Doda and Kishtwar — the place from where the communal violence started.

However, the situation in Ramban and Poonch districts remained normal where no curfew is in force.

However, despite curfew restrictions, protesters took to streets and staged violent protests hurling stones on the police and torching vehicles at several places in Kathua, Jammu, Samba, Udhampur and Reasi.

Shantmanu further said a majority of the Machail Mata yatris stranded in Padder were shifted to safety in Udhampur last night. “The administration is taking care of the remaining persons,” he added.

However, reports reaching here from Paddar area in Kishtwar district said four people received bullet injuries on Saturday evening in mob firing. Some shops were also damaged during the clashes.