Fresh clashes erupt in Kishtwar, locals defy curfew, minister resigns

Despite a slew of announcements made by the Omar Abdullah government including the sacking of minister of state for home Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, the situation continued to remain tense in Kishtwar and neighbouring districts of Jammu division on Monday. According to reports coming from Kishtwar, four persons, including two policemen, were injured in fresh clashes which broke out on Monday as residents defied curfew to protest against the arrest of a youth for his alleged involvement in Friday’s communal violence in the area.

Trouble erupted when police tried to stop protesters from marching to the Hidyal area of the town after defying curfew, which entered its fourth day on Monday. The protesters blamed local MLA Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, who resignedon Monday from his post of the Jammu and Kashmir minister of state for home, for the disturbances in the area. They also slammed a DSP for targeting innocent youths.

BJP had demanded that Kitchloo be removed pending an impartial inquiry on his alleged role in the riots in Kishtwar.Two cops were injured in the clashes along with two others as police resorted to a lathi-charge and teargas shelling. They also reportedly fired in the air to bring the situation under control. According to reports, Additional Superintendent of Police Kulbir Singh and a selection grade constable sustained injuries in the clashes.

The curfew has been in place in Kishtwar since Friday, when communal violence erupted in the town resulting in the killing of three persons with several others injured. In