Jammu, February 11 (KNO) : Clashes erupted in Jammu on Monday near Science college Jammu after valley bound passengers in winter capital raised pro-Pakistan slogans.
Eye-witnesses told KNO said that stranded passengers assembled near Mufti house on Kanal road Jammu against administration’s failure to evacuate them to the Valley.
The situation took ugly turn when the students of the nearby college attacked the protesting valley bound passengers that led to clashes in the area. "Stranded passengers raised pro-Pakistan slogans like Pakistan Zindabad," they said, adding that students of the nearby Science College attacked the valley bound passengers, which according to reports are 2500 to 3000 in number.
The flight that was to take some of them to valley had only two seats for the passengers that irritated the stranded people, reports said, adding that "in the ensuing clashes between the students and stranded passengers, stone pelting erupted in the area," they said.
Two stranded passengers and four students have been injured in the stone pelting in the area. Police as per eye-witnesses have reached the spot and is trying to pacify the situation. "Police in large number have been deployed in the area to ensure the situation would not deteriorate further and to not let the students again create ruckus in the area," they said.
Top officials including district commissioner is on the spot to control the situations. Reports reaching KNO said that the students again attacked passengers but police swung into action and cane charged rioting students. According to KNO correspondent, all the stranded passengers have been shifted to safer places due to apprehensions of attack on stranded passengers.
“The stranded passengers have been shifted from Mufti House to General Bus Stand Jammu and other safe places keeping in view of the safety of passengers and to maintain law and order via SRTC Buses keeping in of stone pelting,” officials told KNO.
Pertinently, Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only road connectivity of the valley with rest of the world remains closed for sixth consecutive day. The passengers had been demanding special flights to airlift them to valley as they claimed that prices of commodities in Jammu has soared too high and hotel bills have been raised by the profiteers. The stranded passengers are accusing government of playing cruel joke with them by not taking any concrete measures for their quick and safe return home.
However, sources told KNO that at least 200 stranded passengers including Women, old-aged have been identified who will be airlifted to Kashmir shortly. Authorities have identified 200 passengers out of at least 3000 and shall be airlifted to the Valley shortly, they said. (KNO)