Bandh over Kathua rape affects normal life

A partial shutdown was observed and rallies organised by the Jammu High Court Bar Association (JHCBA) to press several demands including the handing over of the Kathua rape and murder case to the CBI. The shutdown affected the rail services and traffic on the national highway.

“We will intensify the agitation in case the government fail to meet our demands. If you (the government) did not throw Rohingya’s out of Jammu, we will make Jammu-Rohingya Muslim free. ” said JHCBA president B.S. Salathia at Satwari.

Mr. Salathia also demanded that the case of the eight-year-old Bakerwal girl, who was raped and murdered in January in Kathua, should “be handed over to the CBI for investigations”. The Bar also demanded the roll back of order issued to the Tribal Affairs minister by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti over forest land enclosures.

The lawyers’ association organised street protests, which hit the vehicular movement on the Jammu-Pathankote national highway and train services at Hiranagar.

The bandh call evoked partial response in Jammu region, as normal life was not impacted in the Chenab Valley or the Pir Panchal valley. Lawyers in these valleys distanced themselves from the shutdown call.