Situation back to normal in Kishtwar

The situation in Kishtwar district of Jammu region has return back to normal, three days after a temple was gutted in a fire, triggering tension in the area, police said today.
The investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is going on and material collected from the temple site has been sent for forensic investigation and statements have also been collected from various people, a senior police official said.
"Situation is normal and there is no untoward incident reported any where from the district during past 24 hours," SSP Kishtwar, Sandeep Wazir, told PTI.
He said that a rumour was also spread about sacrilegious act after the temple fire.

"It is apprehended that these could be aimed at to trigger communal tension in the fragile district," he added.
"We have collected material from the site for forensic investigation and a police team headed by SHO have also talked to the people and taken their statements in the area," the SSP said.

Kishtwar and Bhaderwah areas are communally sensitive areas in Chenab Valley of Jammu region.
Kishtwar district saw communal clashes and violence on Eid day on August 9, 2013 in which three people were killed, several injured and huge property gutted in arson.
An ancient temple and two houses were gutted in a fire under a suspicious circumstances at Mughal Maidan area of the Kishtwar district on the night of December 14.

It was followed by rumours that a bovine animal has been slaughtered.
Government acted swiftly as Minister of State for Roads and Buildings, Sunil Sharma along with IGP and top other police officers rushed to the temple spot and assured people of probe, thereby constituting an SIT headed by the SSP Kishtwar.
On Wednesday, MoS in PMO and local MP Dr Jitendra Singh granted Rs five lakh as compensation to the victims. Sharma has also granted Rs one lakh as compensation.
Earlier, Congress, National Conference and BJP have also demanded probe into the gutting of temple.