In protest against the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, it remained completely closed in several parts of Jammu region. Apart from Jammu city, it was also closed in Reasi, Udhampur, Katra, Kathua and Samba.
Protests took place in many parts of the city of Jammu and many protesters raised anti -Pakistan slogans.
Senior BJP leader Yudhveer Sethi told reporters here, “We want to give a befitting reply to Pakistan on the lines of surgical strikes to destroy terrorist bases there. We want terrorists and their supporters to be eliminated in Jammu and Kashmir.”
He further said that Pakistan will never stop supporting terrorism and strict action should be taken against it. Another BJP leader Rajesh Gupta said, “We want to avenge the murders. Security forces should take revenge.”
In Reasi, hundreds of people took out a protest and burnt tires.
Normal life came to a standstill in Jammu city due to the bandh. Shops and business establishments remained closed due to the shutdown called by many civil society groups and business bodies and public transport was absent from roads.
Many educational institutions remained closed and government offices also had less attendance than normal days. The Jammu Bar Association also kept bandh in protest against the killings. Several organizations including Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Transporters Association, Jammu Bar Association and Congress called for a complete bandh in Jammu.
“The situation is normal during the bandh. There is no news of any untoward incident from anywhere in the area,” an official said.
The administration is in close contact with community leaders to maintain harmony. Officials said that additional deployment of police and paramilitary forces has been done at sensitive places, while posts have been set up to monitor the movement.
The killings in Pahalgam have shocked the entire country and condemned it by political parties, human rights groups and citizens. Many people called this attack a heinous attack on the spirit of Kashmiriyat and the centuries -old tradition of hospitality in the region.
Former Jammu and Kashmir DGP SP Vaid called it “Pulwama 2 Pal” for India.
He said, “This attack is not just a coincidence, this is a well -planned campaign. I have said earlier … These are SSG commandos of Pakistan who are in the uniform of terrorists. A few days ago, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir made a statement and now you are seeing such an attack.”
The former police chief further said, “Asim Munir is using the language of ‘Jihad’; The attack has been done in a similar way. The answer should be the same as Israel did after Hamas’s attack. There should be a proper answer.” Militants opened fire on Tuesday afternoon at a meadow near Pahalgam city in South Kashmir, killing 26 people- which were said to be the most deadly attack in the valley after the Pulwama attack in 2019.
