Tuesday, May 2 2006 14:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: Normal life was affected in several parts of Jammu today (May 2, 2006) due to the bandh called by several political parties to protest the killing of 32 Hindus in Doda and Udhampur districts.

Shops and business establishments were closed and private vehicles remained off the roads in response to the bandh call given by National Conference, BJP, Panthers Party, VHP and the RSS.

Educational institutions also remained closed while attendance in government offices and other public sector undertakings was thin.

Party activists were seen closing shops in the bylanes of the old city, official sources said adding that no untoward incident was reported in the city or its outskirts.

Police has been deployed in many areas of the city to maintain law and order, they said.

A bandh is also being observed in Ramban, Batote, Kishtwar in Doda district and parts of Udhampur, the sources said.

National Conference provincial president Ajay Sadhotra said that the bandh has been called to protest the killings of 32 Hindus in Doda and Udhampur districts.

State BJP president Nirmal Singh said the bandh has been called to protest the killings and what he termed as 'total collapse'of the Congress-led state government in providing security to the people.

VHP state unit president Ramakant Dubey, condemning the killings, said "We have appealed to the people in entire Jammu to protest by observing a complete bandh".

Dubey claimed that the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had failed in its Kashmir policy.

Panthers Party and RSS leaders have also condemned the killings and appealed to the people to make the bandh a success. A peace march was also taken out in Doda today to express solidarity with the families of those killed.