Protesters Clashed With Police Over Government's Delay in Announcing Jammu AIIMS

A committee of lawyers, traders, industrialists and civil society members in Jammu had called for a three-day shutdown beginning on Friday, July 29, 2015. They accused the central government of going back on its promise of setting up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Jammu. Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Nirmal Singh had given a written assurance that AIIMS would be announced before July 21, 2015. However, the protest turned violent when protesters clashed with police, over the government's delay in announcing an AIIMS-like facility in the Jammu region Police used batons and tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters who were shouting anti-BJP slogans as they tried to force entry into the party office in Kachi Chaawni area of the city. Normal life of the people was hit as shops, public transport and other businesses were adversely affected. However, government offices, banks and post offices continued to function normally.

Abhinav Sharma, chairman of the committee and president of Jammu Bar Association said, "The Jammu region will remain shut on July 31, August 1 and 2. It became clear on July 20 that BJP had taken recourse to dirty politics as it failed to stand by its commitment to ensure that AIIMS for Jammu region is announced."

Source-IANS