After mobs protesting against the terrorist strike in the Kashmir Valley turned violent, torching some vehicles and damaging several others, the authorities on Friday imposed a curfew in the area of whole Jammu City.

District Magistrate Ramesh Kumar said the curfew had been clamped to maintain law and order.

Police said the violence began from the city’s Gujjar Nagar area.

The curfew was imposed under Section 144 Criminal Procedure Code, Kumar informed.

As the news about the attack spread, communal clashes were reported from different parts of Jammu. Locals protested in Kathua, raising anti-Pakistan slogans.

Police used tear smoke and batons to bring the situation under control after which curfew was imposed, initially in Gujjar Nagar, Talab Khatikan, Janipur, Bakshi Nagar, Chenni Heemat, Bus Stand and some other places in the old city area and later extended to entire Jammu.

Tension spread to other “sensitive areas” of the city as news about the violence in Gujjar Nagar spread.

“People are advised to maintain calm and not play into the hands of anti-social elements who want to exploit the situation for their nefarious objectives,” a police officer said.

Army helicopters and drones monitored the situation in Jammu on Friday during the clashes and incidents of arson. The Army was called by the authorities to assist the administration in bringing the situation under control as mobs defied the curfew and continued to indulge in violence.

Reacting promptly and in a swift action, a spokesman of the Army said, 9 Internal Security Columns of Army from Tiger Division along with air support from White Knight Corps were deployed in Gujjar Nagar, Janipur, Shahidi Chowk, Talab Khatika and other areas.

Flag marches were also conducted by the IS columns. Helicopters and UAVs of Army were also put into operation to monitor the situation. “The proactive approach jointly taken by J&K Police, Civil administration (Divisional Commissioner and District Collector’s office) and Indian Army has ensured that the situation remains in control and peaceful,” he added.

A protest shutdown was called on Friday by the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI). Jammu transporters association, the local Bar association and the National Conference had extended support to the shutdown.

Mobile internet services have been snapped in the whole of South Kashmir in the wake of the terrorist attack.

Meanwhile, movement of convoys of security forces has been halted in the Kashmir valley in the wake of the Thursday attack.

Read | 44 CRPF jawans killed, nearly 45 injured in suicide attack in J-K’s Pulwama; JeM claims responsibility

A suicide bomber had rammed an SUV carrying 350 kg of explosives into a bus carrying the CRPF troopers in the deadliest attack in decades on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir killing at least 44. Nearly 45 jawans were seriously injured in the suicide attack.

The Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) has claimed responsibility for the suicide attack and released a video clip of the suicide bomber, a ‘commander’ identified as Adil Ahmad Dar.