Srinagar and parts of Kashmir observed a shutdown on Friday over the ‘controversial’ remarks by two (now-suspended) BJP leaders against Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) while the authorities in J&K suspended the mobile internet services in the region.
This comes a day after curfew was imposed in Kishtwar district and Bhaderwah town in Doda district. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC were imposed in the rest of the Chenab Valley on Thursday.
The internet services have been snapped in Kashmir capital Srinagar and Bhaderwah, Kishtwar districts of the Jammu region.
However, broadband services remained operational in Srinagar city.
Government forces have been deployed in strength at sensitive places in the city and elsewhere in the Valley for maintaining law and order, officials said.
Downtown Srinagar, witnessed a complete shutdown with public transport off the roads.
Shops, bussiness establishments remained shut. However, civil traffic was plying from Lal Chowk, Batamaloo, and, adjoining areas of offices and schools remained open.
“As a precautionary measure to stop rumor-mongering, authorities have shut down the internet on mobile devices in some areas,” officials said.
“There were no reports of any untoward incident in the Valley so far.”
Earlier, on Thursday, a curfew was imposed in (Chenab valley) J&K’s Bharderwah and Kishtwar districts. Sporadic incidents of stone-pelting were reported in Bhaderwah town with hundreds of people staging a sit-in protesting against the remarks. Some people hurled stones on the streets amid sloganeering.
Trouble reportedly erupted when objectionable remarks against a particular community were made during a protest rally by members of the majority community at Bhaderwah. The rally was organized to demand the arrest of people, including a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader, for their alleged Facebook posts extending support to suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her remarks against Prophet Muhammad and his wife.
The Kishtwar police registered an FIR in the matter and warned people against taking the law into their own hands.
However, tension increased around midnight when two women, who came out of the mosque, alleged that they were roughed up by the government forces who were implementing a curfew in the town.
Stones were pelted at forces who had to later lob tear gas shells and resorted lathi charge.
Tension eased after senior officials, including the additional deputy commissioner, assured the protestors that an inquiry would be held to probe into the allegations leveled by the two women.
Additional Director General of Police Mukesh Singh visited the Baderwah town with the officials and took stock of the situation there. He said action would be soon taken against the culprits.
Union minister and Udhampur MP Jitendra Singh have appealed for peace and harmony.
"Curfew has been imposed in both Doda and Kishtwar districts as a precautionary measure," Divisional Commissioner, Jammu region, Ramesh Kumar told PTI.
The outrage among Muslims across the world unfolded when two BJP leaders made blasphemous remarks against the last prophet of Islam on TV debates.
Qatar, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Indonesia, and Oman among many countries across the world denounced the remarks.
BJP suspended and expelled the duo and called them ‘fringe.’