Internet suspended over temple desecration in Jammu

Police officials stated that a mentally unsound youth was reported to have vandalised a temple in the Roopnagar area of Jammu.

The youth, who was identified as Yasir Alfaz, was cited to be under psychiatric care from 2008.

Alfaz and a few others were arrested for activities of violence following the incident, while a head constable was suspended.

The city of Jammu witnessed another incidence of temple desecration, as a local resident vandalised a temple in Nanak Nagar yesterday.

The man was arrested soon after, and a large number of people came to the roads after news spread in protests against the act.

The accused was identified as Gurbachan Singh, a police constable who was under suspension for the past two years.

Following the incidents of temple desecration, there was widespread violence in the city of Jammu.

Twenty two people were arreasted for arson, although released later when the VHP threated an agitation and communal violence in the region.

Many peple took to the streets in riots and protests, and a bandh was called on Wednesday in Jammu, resulting in businesses and local establishments shutting shop.

Officials in Jammu have notified that all internet services have been suspended in Jammu, following the violence that was sparked by the events of temple desecration in the city.

The suspension of the services was done primarily to prevent rumours from spreading through social media and networking sites.

The officials said that the suspension would be revoked if the situation returns to normalcy.

The PDP government has assured the people of Jammu that a probe is underway to ascertain facts about the alleged desecration of two temples in the last week.

Minister for Law Abdul Haq Khan said, "we will not let anyone vitiate the conducive atmosphere, in which the tourism has flourished."

The BJP sought the transfer of police officers under whose jurisdiction the incidents occurred.