Sikh Protesters clash with Police in Jammu, One killed

Jammu, June 4 (IANS): A protester was killed and over a dozen others, including three policemen, were injured on Thursday in clashes between security forces and a group of Sikh who blocked roads here on Thursday denouncing the removal of a poster carrying picture of militant Sikh leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

Police sources said security forces had to open fire to quell a violent mob of Sikh protesters at Gadigarh, eight km from Jammu city centre.

“One person was killed in this firing incident and over a dozen others, including three policemen, were injured when a violent mob attacked the deployed security forces in Gadigarh area,” a source told.

The killed man was identified as Jagjit Singh, son of Narveer Singh of RS Pura. Reports said three three injured policemen have been shifted to hospital in a critical condition after the mob attacked them.

Tension gripped the entire Jammu city after the news of police firing spread. Sikh protesters blocked the Jammu-RS Pura road at Gadigarh by erecting road blocks and burning old tyres on the highway.

They were agitating against the removal of Bhindranwale posters by police in the area on Wednesday.

An angry protester then attacked a police assistant sub-inspector with a knife in Satwari area of Jammu city on Wednesday, following which tensions mounted among the Sikh community here.

Senior police and civil administration officials, including the district magistrate and the senior superintendent of police, have rushed to the spot.

Reinforcements of police and CRPF have also been rushed to the area to prevent further violence.