Srinagar: Buckling under pressure from the pro-Khalistan lobby, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday allowed it to celebrate the 31st death anniversary of Khalistani terror leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The situation is returning back to normal in Jammu after four days of violent protests over removal of posters of Bhindranwale in which one youth was killed.
The Army which was deployed in various parts of the tense Jammu on Saturday morning has been called off.
"Army has been called off from Jammu city by authorities around 7.30 PM today. We have called off the operation Jan Shanti in the city to restore normalcy and peace", PRO Defence Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta said.
By and large situation is returning back to normal in the city after violence for few days, he said adding no untoward incident was reported.
Earlier, Army was deployed in various parts of the city as the Sikh youth killed in clashes with police was cremated after the state government accepted most of the demands of the agitating community, including magisterial probe and transfer of district police chief.
Army carried out a 'Flag March' in the disturbed areas of Jammu, including Miran Sahib, Satwari, Digiana, RS Pura, Talab Tillo, Bakshi Nagar and Rehari as security was stepped up in view of the death anniversary of Bhindranwale.
Quick reactions teams (QRTs) of Army were also deployed in view of the prevailing tension arising out of four-day protest by sikh community members over removal of Bhindranwale's posters which had come up in some localities.
Meanwhile, the Sikh youth killed during clashes with police on Thursday was cremated after the state government accepted most of the demands of the agitating community.
The government ordered magisterial probe into firing incident and violence. It would be conducted by Divisional Commissioner Jammu Pawan Kotwal.
Accepting another demand, the government ordered transfer of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu Uttam Chand, suspension of Satwari's Station House Officer (SHO) Kulbir Singh and payment of ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh and a government job to the next kin of the slain sikh youth Jagjit Singh.
A case under murder charges was also registered against SSP's PSO.
"An FIR under section 302 RPC (murder) has been lodged (in Police Station Satwari) against the PSO of SSP Uttam Chand for firing (during violent protests in which one youth was killed Gadigarh area of city yesterday)", Deputy Commissioner, Jammu Simrandeep Singh said.
The PSO of the SSP had opened fire in "self-defence" during an attack by angry protesters at Gadigarh in Satwari belt of Jammu city, police has said.
"Police has fired in self-defence in which there was one causality. The entire incident would be looked into and action would to taken against those involved in it," Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh had said.
He said there was peaceful environment in Jammu and such a situation is being created by "some people".
The government posted Ashkoor Wani as DIG Jammu, gave charge of SSP Jammu to Additional SP Rajiv Panday and posted Manjeet Singh as new Station House Officer (SHO) Satwari Police Station.
"The four-hour-long talks late in the night with the administration were successful since all the demands of the community were met," Sikh leader Tarlochan Singh Wazir told reporters here.
The government side was represented by state Home Secretary RK Goyal, Director General of Police K Rajendra Kumar, Jammu Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal and other senior civil and police officials.
"The cremation has taken place peacefully at Chohala hamlet in RS Pura tehsil this afternoon. There were no protests," a police officer said today.
Apart from the Army, police and paramilitary forces were deployed in strength in sensitive areas.
With additional information from PTI)
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