Hundreds of bandh supporters today staged protest demonstrations and burnt effigies of politicians in Jammu throwing life out of gear in this strife-torn State. The Amaranth Sangrash Samiti called the bandh demanding removal of Governor N N Vohra and restoration of the cancelled land transfer to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB). Protesters in several areas of the city including Muthi, Satwari, Nagrota, Jewel, Parade and Canal Road burnt effigies of Vohra, outgoing Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and PDP chief Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. They also shouted slogans against the Congress and the PDP. Over a dozen of private and public transport vehicles were damaged after the bandh supporters resorted to stone pelting in several areas of Bari-Brahamana, Satwari and Gangyal. "However, there were no major clashes between police and public and the situation was peaceful till now," police control room officials said. Amid the protests, Vohra took a whirlwind visit of the city, Gladni power house and Seethli water supply unit and review the security situation today. The protesters were led by several groups including BJP, Shiv Sena, VHP, Sangrash Samiti, JJSF, Kranti Dal, Bajrang Dal, All Party Migrant Coordination Committee and Panun Kashmir, and Jammu and Kashmir Vichar Manch. Massive protest rallies and demonstrations were also seen in Badi Brahamana, Bishnah, Gangyal, Vijaypur, Samba, Lakhanpur and Kathua areas of Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts, where the bandh was reported to be complete. The Bar Association of Jammu also joined the protesters and demanded sacking of the Governor accusing him of making "anti-Jammu decisions that hurt the sentiments of people over the Amarnath issue". Authorities said a security mechanism is already in place with the deployment of police, armed personnel and CRPF in various areas of the city and intensified mobile patrolling to control the situation. Additional security is also provided in sensitive areas where minority communities reside and cordoned off residents of Congress leaders. Reports from Udhampur, Chenani, Katra, Reasi, Ramban, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Kalakote, Noushera, Sunderbani and Hiranagar said the bandh was complete but no untoward incident was reported from anywhere. Police said 19 people were arrested as a precautionary measure from various places. State DGP Kuldeep Khuda and Principal Secretary Bharat Viyas accompanied Governor Vohra during his visit to Gladni power station and Seethli water supply unit in Narwal and Sidhra areas of Jammu city. During his visit, Vohra interacted with engineers at the sites and directed them to ensure better power and water supply to the people. Later, the Governor took stock of the security situation that arose due to bandh. (PTI) Pointing towards the utterances of former Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad in a public meeting at Akhnoor, the convenor of Sangarsh Samiti asked why Mr Azad didn’t take any action against those Kashmiri leaders, who have been getting hawala money from Arab and other nations when he was in the power? "Instead of taking action against such Kashmiri leaders, he preferred to get their support to remain in the power which clearly indicates that for Mr Azad national integration remained second fiddle", Mr Sharma said, adding "it seems that taking away land from SASB was the conspiracy of both Mr Vohra and Mr Azad". source:daily excelsior