Curfew imposed in Jammu after suicide case

A day-long curfew has been imposed in the Jammu city and adjoining areas on Thursday after increasing violence between both communities following the suicide of a man over the issue of cancellation of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

The incident of suicide took place on Wednesday when the youth named Kuldeep Kumar Dogra, a resident of Talab Tillo, Jammu, fainted after delivering a speech in a hunger strike at Parade Ground in Jammu organised by the activists of Amarnath Yatra Sangarash Samiti (AYSS).

The police in its initial investigation have termed it as suicide though a high level probe has been ordered by the state administration, which is now under President’s rule after the Congress-led government failed to continue in power after the pull-out of key coalition partner, PDP.

Witnessing no lowering of violence and disruption in the regions, the administration has imposed a day-long curfew which may be extended further taking stock of the ground situation later in the evening, as said by an administrative official.

According to media reports based on eyewitnesses' statement, Kumar (25) consumed poison before his speech and failed unconscious and was later taken to the hospital where he was declared brought-dead.

The incident has again brought alive the controversial Amarnath land row in the state. The Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti in the Hindu dominated Jammu region has been demanding 40 hectares of forest land to be granted to the shrine board to erect huts for the management of annual pilgrims. Though the land was granted but later revoked after protest from Muslim community and political parties, eventually leading to the fall of coalition government in the state.

Angry protests by both Hindus and Muslims have already claimed lives of at least 5 people in the last one month.