Tense Jammu limps towards normalcy, curfew relaxed under phased manner

JAMMU: The district administration on Tuesday relaxed curfew — which was enforced last Friday in wake of violent protests across Jammu following the Pulwama attack — in a phased manner under eight police stations in the region. The district is slowly limping back to normalcy even as the situation remains tense.
“On Tuesday morning, the curfew was relaxed under police station areas of Nowabad, City and Peermitha from 11.30am to 1.30pm and it passed peacefully,” Jammu district magistrate (DM) Ramesh Kumar said. “Curfew will be relaxed from 3pm to 5pm under police station areas of Bus Stand, Pacca, Danga, Bakshi Nagar and Janipur; and from 3.30pm to 7pm in Gandhi Nagar, Gangyal, Bagh-e-Bahu and Satwari,” he added.

“Prohibitory orders under Section 144 (unlawful assembly) shall remain imposed in areas where curfew was relaxed,” the DM said, adding that decisions regarding the reopening of educational institutions and restoration of internet service will be taken after further reviewing the situation.

Official identity cards of civil secretariat employees and emergency services staff will serve as their curfew passes, said Kumar. “Air and railway tickets, and admit cards for various examinations will also be treated as curfew passes,” he added.

In view of the security situation, Jammu University has postponed all examinations scheduled on February 20 and 21. “Fresh dates will be issued later,” said a varsity spokesperson.

Soon after the curfew was relaxed, citizens thronged the markets to purchase essential commodities. ATMs and grocery shops saw a beeline of consumers.