Guwahati: Curfew was enforced and internet services were blocked in major cities in the Chinab valley region and the capital city of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir after protests erupted over an inappropriate social media post.
The administration enforced a curfew last evening following a series of protests in Bhaderwah town. In addition, restriction prohibiting gatherings of three or more individuals has been set up in the Ramban district.
Meanwhile, the army has been dispatched to the town to execute a flag march.
In addition, the Doda district government has urged the media not to publish any material that could jeopardise regional communal unity.
It should be mentioned that tensions rose in Bhaderwah after some individuals publicly praised Nupur Sharma, the now-suspended national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for her inflammatory remarks against Prophet Mohammad.
This was followed by inflammatory speech and rallies at a nearby mosque and then a highly offensive piece of content appeared on social media sparking more protests and turmoil in the communally sensitive town.
According to police, a FIR has been filed in the case and anyone who breaks the law will face consequences.
However, no arrests have been made as a result of the blasphemous content being uploaded.
In the meantime, political officials have called for peace and requested community elders to maintain harmony.
Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah tweeted, “I hope cooler heads prevail. Jammu and Kashmir has enough problems without adding to them with communal tension spreading in and around Bhaderwah. I appeal to everyone to maintain calm and ask my party colleagues to help normalise the situation at the earliest.”
Union minister Jitendra Singh also took to Twitter to write, “I am deeply disturbed by the unpleasant situation that developed in #Bhaderwah yesterday. I humbly appeal to the elders and the heads of the two communities to sit together to maintain the traditional harmony for which the beautiful town of Bhaderwah has always been known for.”