The border town of Mendhar in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir was in flames on Wednesday after people rioted following the death of at least three persons in police firing on a procession of both Muslims and Hindus who were protesting the alleged desecration of the Koran in the United States.
Over two dozen people people were injured in the firing which some officials of the civil administration said was ?unprovoked?. Curfew has been imposed and the Army has been called in to restore order.
Policemen ran for cover as mobs torched buildings housing government offices, official and private residences of senior officials. The acts of arson continued despite announcement of curfew and the civil administration turning to the Army for help.
Jammu divisional commissioner Pawan Kotwal said he and the IGP had personally contacted senior Army officers in Rajouri and Jammu. ?It was suggested to us that we impose curfew and send a written requisition. Curfew has been imposed and the requisition placed,? Kotwal said, adding that they had been assured that troops were on their way.
?They have burnt the offices of the sub-divisional magistrate, tehsildar, forests department, power development department, block development officer,? Mendhar SDM Mukhtar Chowdhary said.
?With nobody to stop them, they are now setting ablaze the court complex,? he said, adding that mobs were also headed towards the office of the BSNL.
Attributing the violence to public anger against ?unprovoked? firing by some policemen, a senior official said that a large number of protesters were sitting on the road with the bodies and demanding the arrest of the SDPO (sub-divisional police officer) and his two bodyguards.
Senior civil and police officers from Poonch and Rajouri had reached Mendhar to talk to the protesters and the local administration, an official said, was prepared to register an FIR against the erring police officials.