Jammu Bandh over beef issue remain peaceful

A bandh called today by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) and various religious and social organisations in the district to protest against the 'beef party' hosted by Independent MLA Engineer Rashid and killing of cows in Udhampur district passed off peacefully.
"The bandh remained totally peaceful in the district, there was no untoward incident reported in any part of Jammu," Senior Superintendent of Police Jammu Uttam Chand told PTI.
He said elaborate security arrangements were made to thwart any untoward incident during the day-long Jammu bandh.
The bandh, called by JKNPP and supported by various religious and social organisations, including Bar Association Jammu (BAJ), evoked near complete response in the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

The public transport mostly remained off the roads while movement of private vehicles continued as normal. Transporters association remained undecided whether to support the bandh or not.
Shops and other business establishments remained closed to protest against the 'beef party' hosted by Independent MLA Engineer Rashid at MLA hostel in Srinagar.

Though the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CII) Jammu refused to extend its support to the bandh, shopkeepers kept the shutters of their establishments down.
"We have extended our support to the strike call as the issue is related to the religious sentiments of the Hindu community across the globe," said Ashok Kumar, a shopkeeper.

A number io educational institutions had already declared a holiday today in the wake of bandh call. Attendance in various offices remained thin due to non-availability of public transport.
The JKNPP activists, supported by various other Hindu organisations, held protests at several places in the city during which they raised anti-government slogans demanding immediate arrest of Rashid for holding the 'beef party'.
They also demanded immediate identification and arrest of those who were allegedly involved in the killing of three cows in Udhampur district, where three carcasses of the animal were recovered on Thursday last.
They also burnt the effigies of Engineer Rashid and the state government for its alleged failure to strictly impose the law that prohibits the slaughter and sale of beef in J-K.

Three districts of Jammu region, including Udhampur, Kathua and Reasi had yesterday observed a complete bandh on the issue.
J-K Legislative Assembly had witnessed chaotic scenes in the wake of the two incidents, following which a resolution was unanimously passed yesterday appealing the people of the state to maintain communal harmony.