Probe Ordered
SRINAGAR: The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have ordered closure of educational institutions across the Jammu regions to prevent communal violence, that has caused havoc in Kishtwar town, from spreading to other areas.
An official spokesman said “Divisional Administration has ordered that all the government and private schools and colleges shall remain closed on 10th August, 2013.”
Meanwhile the government has ordered a high-level probe into the communal clashes which have so far left two persons and reduced hundreds of houses and shops to rubble.
The Divisional Commissioner of Jammu region, Shantamanu has been appointed as the inquiry officer and has been asked to submit his report within three weeks.
The government has also announced an ex-gratia relief of half a million rupees (five lakhs) to the next of kin of the deceased.
The deputy chief minister, Tara Chand convened a meeting of political leaders from different parties besides trade union leaders and citizens in Jammu.
The meeting was attended among others by senior leaders of the Hindu-nationalist Bhartiya Janta Party inlcuding Ashok Khajuria and Chaman Lal Gupta.
The Divisional Commissioner, Shantamanu and other senior officers also participated in the meeting.
The deputy CM made an appeal for maintenance of peace, harmony and brotherhood and requested the political parties not to politicise the incident. He instead asked them to restore peace.
Meanwhile the government has shifted the district head of the administration and also the district police chief in view of the violence.
Baseer Khan has been posted as the deputy commissioner while Sanjay Kotwal has been appointed as the new superintendent of Police.
