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The call for the shutdown was given by High Court Bar Association of Jammu (BAJ) and other groups. However, Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry had decided not to support the bandh.

Former JNU vice-president Shehla Rashid along with local students during a protest demanding justice for the Kathua rape victim in Srinagar Jammu observed a shutdown on Wednesday demanding a

CBI probe in the rape and murder case of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, the rollback of the controversial tribal policy and the expulsion of Rohiyngays from Jammu and Kashmir. The call

for the shutdown was given by High Court Bar Association of Jammu (BAJ) and other groups. However, Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry had decided not to support the bandh. Shops and

business establishments were closed and roads wore a deserted look. Protestors had blocked Jammu-Pathankote National Highway at several places and burnt tyres on the highway, bringing the

movement of traffic to a grinding halt. Lawyers carrying the tricolour were patrolling the city to ensure the bandh call is successful. However, the bandh was peaceful and there were no

reports of violence from any part of the city. "The bandh was totally peaceful. All shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off roads. The impact of the bandh was

feld not only in the old city but also in the extended areas", said BS Salathia, president BAJ. Even as Jammu observed a shutdown, protests were held in Srinagar, demanding justice for

the rape victim. Protests were held in Kashmir University by student groups. They were carrying banners and buntings with a picture of the rape victim and raising slogans against political

parties communalising the issue. Chilling details emerged in the horrific rape and murder of the girl in Kathua district in January. From being drugged to being gang-raped in a revered

religious place, the bone-chilling crime had all the wicked traits of lust, hatred and revenge. Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Srinagar, also joined the chorus demanding a

transfer of the trial to a specially constituted Bench of the High Court. In an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee, Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Srinagar,

denounced the acts of lawyers in Kathua to obstruct the Crime Branch from filing the chargesheet against the accused in the rape case. "Therefore, it is demanded that in order ensure a

free and fair trial the case should be transferred to a Specially constituted Bench in the High Court, and the High Court itself should conduct the trial of the case to restore the faith of

the people in rule of law", said a spokesman of Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Srinagar.