Bandh observed in some areas of Ramban, situation normal

Fresh protests were witnessed in some areas of Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district during today's bandh demanding arrest of those involved in the firing incident in Dharam where four persons were killed on July 18.

There was bandh in Gool and Sangaldan towns of Ramban and people held brief protests demanding arrest of those involved in the firing, sources said.

"Situation is under control and no report of any untoward incident was received from Jammu region," a police spokesman said.

The bandh comes close on the heels of the visit of a team of district officials led by newly appointed District Development Commissioner H Malik to Gool and Dharam areas to review the situation and inquire into the firing incident.

Protests against the killings had broke out in Banihal and Gool yesterday when curfew was lifted in Ramban district.

The Amarnath Yatra from Jammu also resumed last evening after it was halted in view of curfew imposed in many parts of Kashmir Valley, officials said.

The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was also reopened to traffic yesterday after a two-day closure due to tensions in Ramban district, police said.

Authorities are monitoring the situation round-the-clock and additional forces have been deployed in sensitive areas of Jammu region, the spokesman said.

BSF Special Director General Dilip Trivedi yesterday conducted preliminary inquiry into the Ramban firing incident and assessed reports after meeting people, police and BSF officers to ascertain circumstances in which four persons were killed and 42 suffered injuries when a mob attacked a BSF camp on July 18.