Total bandh in Jammu, highway closed

Normal life was disrupted in Jammu as all business establishments and schools remained shut due to a bandh call given by Sikh organisations.

Normal life was disrupted in Jammu region on Tuesday as all business establishments and schools remained shut due to a bandh call given by Sikh organisations in protest against Dera Sacha Sauda chief's alleged blasphemy.

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The traffic was off the road in the region as the Pathankote-Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed by the protesters amidst burning of the effigies of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. The agitators were demanding the Dera leader's arrest for hurting Sikh sentiments.

The bandh was total in Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur and Poonch districts, officials said.

There were no untoward incidents barring a stone pelting incident on the highway, they said.

Security has been beefed up in the city as a precautionary measure, the officials said.

A massive protest rally is scheduled to be taken out from Digiana gurdwara where Sikhs from different places are arriving to take part.