Anti-Pakistan protests break out in Jammu

A day after a deadly terror attack at a tunnel construction site in J-K's Ganderbal left seven people dead, members of the Shiv Sena, Dogra Front and Rashtriya Bajrang Dal on Monday burned Pakistani flags in Jammu in protest against the killings amid slogans against the neighbouring country.

The protesters demanded that the terrorists involved in the fatal attack be eliminated at the earliest to restore confidence among the people.

Blaming Pakistan squarely for the attack, the agitators claimed it was the fallout of the frustration among the terrorists after the peaceful Assembly elections and the formation of an elected government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Led by Dogra Front president Ashok Gupta, the protesters also burned the effigy of Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in response to the “dastardly” attack in Ganderbal, raising “Pakistan Hai Hai” slogans.

“Terrorists involved in such acts should be eliminated so that a strong message is sent to Pakistan. The houses of over-ground workers should be identified and bulldozed to ensure that no one dares to support the terrorists,” Gupta said.

Stating that the nation should stand united and avoid political maneuvering, Gupta said, “A strong retaliatory strike should be launched against the terror nation so that the world can be freed from its nefarious plans for once and all.

Claiming that the latest attack shows that Pakistan cannot tolerate the democratically elected government in J-K, Gupta said, “There can be no talks with them (Pakistan) if they continue to attack us.”

On BC Road, members of the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal (RBD) blocked traffic and burned Pakistani flags. “We urge the lieutenant governor and the Union home minister to instruct the police and the army to eliminate those behind the attack in Ganderbal. They should be hunted down, and their bodies be sent back to Pakistan,” RBD chairman Rakesh Kumar said.

Members of the Shiv Sena (UBT) also took out a protest rally here blaming Pakistan for the violence, which they claimed stemmed from the frustration over the peaceful Assembly polls and the subsequent government formation in J-K.

“The government must ensure the safety and security of those working in Kashmir. The terrorists must be taught a lesson, and Pakistan must stop promoting them,” said the party's J&K unit chief Manish Saini.