Mobile Internet suspended, Jammu tense after temple desecration
Arteev Sharma & Amit Khajuria
Tribune News Service
Jammu, June 15
Mobile internet services were suspended in all 10 districts of Jammu region on Wednesday after the protests against the desecration of an ancient temple of Lord Shiva spread to other districts of the region.
The police have rounded up a few people for alleged violence in Janipur area of Jammu city on Tuesday night after a person “desecrated” and “damaged” the ancient Aap Shambhu temple in Roop Nagar locality.
Protests erupted in different parts of Jammu city and shops remained closed in various markets to express their anguish over the incident.
At least five vehicles, including two buses of Police Public School, were torched by angry mob on Tuesday night. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Rehmatullah, who had slapped the temple priest, has been suspended.
“As a precautionary measure, we have decided to suspend mobile Internet services till the situation returns to normal. The police have rounded up some people for spreading violence and arson. We are yet to ascertain the motive behind the incident,” Simrandeep Singh, District Magistrate, Jammu, told The Tribune.
The administration has ordered the suspension of all kinds of mobile internet services in all 10 districts of Jammu region. “In view of present security scenario in Jammu region, there is every apprehension that anti-national elements/miscreants can create a law-and-order problem for police and administration. It is, therefore, directed to snap down all mobile internet services through GPRS, 2G and 3G till situation normalises in the region,” a police communication to all telecom operators in the region said.
Sources said top police and civil officials had been monitoring the situation since Tuesday evening and the decision to suspend the mobile Internet services had been taken to stop any further flare-up of the situation.
Reports said the Jammu-Pathankot highway was blocked by people of Samba district in protest against the desecration of the temple while all shops and business establishments were also closed.
