[Reader-list] Jammu agitation: Two-lakh court arrest, more to follow

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

*Jammu agitation: Two-lakh court arrest, more to follow*

*Link - **http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=139660*<http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=139660>

THE TWO month long Amarnath agitation has not lost momentum in Jammu region
and despite life remaining paralysed for the last 50 days, the enthusiasm
and support to the agitation has not withered. Continuing their strong
protests against the Amarnath land transfer order, around two-lakh people on
Monday (August 18) responded to the *Jail Bharo* call of the Shree Amarnath
Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (SAYSS).

People from all across the region came out of their homes in the morning in
overwhelming numbers and courted arrest as a mark of protest against the
land order.


According to reports, large number of people gathered in Jammu city,
Udhampur, Kathua, Hiranagar and Reasi and other major towns and villages on
the call of the SAYSS, which is spearheading the agitation.


In the morning today, around 10 000 people gathered at City Chowk in Jammu
city and took out a procession. Chanting 'Bum Bum Bole' the protesters
passed through main roads of the city and reached the city chowk police
station and asked the cops to arrest them.


This was carried out in all the 16 police stations of Jammu city, with
thousands of protesters shouting slogans against the state administration
and governor N N Vohra. The protesters were later taken to MAM stadium and
other schools and colleges, which were turned into jails for the time being.



Udhampur city witnessed a huge turnout and the situation turned violent
after protesters clashed with security personnel. Police resorted to lathi
charge and tear gas shells were fired to control the protesters, who were
demanding the ouster of governor N N Vohra and return of the Amarnath land.


A large turnout was also reported in Samba and Kathua districts, but the
protests remained largely peaceful and there was no report of any untoward
incident.


Meanwhile, Shree Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti (SASS) termed the response to the
*Jail Bharo* andolan as overwhelming and said it was a historic day for the
people of Jammu. Brigadier Suchet Singh, speaking to *merinews*, claimed
that more than three lakh people had participated in today's *Jail
Bharo*andolan.


Singh also criticised the state administration for failing to provide even
basic facilities in the makeshift prisons. "The state did not even provide
water to the agitating people," he said, adding that the people of Jammu
have entered into a do or die mode and will not stop till their goal is
achieved.


This agitation has the support of the rich and poor and cuts across
religious and regional lines, Singh asserted, "Abhi nahi to Kabhi nahi" this
is the war cry of the people. Criticizing the Union government for its
appeasement policy, Singh alleged that government is delaying a decision in
the hope that this agitation will peter off. "This is a people's movement
and will achieve its goal," he said. India is concerned only about the
Hurriyat and Kashmiris and it will not be tolerated at any cost.

Warning that the agitation could further intensify and mode of action could
change, Singh asked the Union government to realise its mistakes and take
corrective action otherwise there could be more unrest and trouble.


The Samiti leaders also registered their strong resentment against certain
sections of the national media, which they said were portraying the
agitation as communal and sectarian.