Jammu, Jan 6: Police sealed the Civil Secretariat in Jammu on Tuesday and deployed heavy security forces to prevent a planned protest by the newly formed Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti, officials said.
The protest call was linked to MBBS admissions at the SMVD Institute of Medical Excellence. The Sangharsh Samiti has alleged religious bias by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board in admitting non-Hindu students to the medical college. The group has demanded either rescission of the admission process or closure of the institution, while threatening to escalate their campaign through signature drives and boycotts.
Hundreds of police personnel, including senior officers, were deployed outside the Civil Secretariat to maintain law and order. “No protesters will be allowed anywhere near the Secretariat premises,” a police official said.
Leaders of the Sangharsh Samiti have also accused the shrine board of misusing shrine funds and have sought intervention from BJP leaders and the Lieutenant Governor. Several right-wing organizations have backed the group’s objections, attempting to frame the admission process as a contentious issue.
However, the government has categorically rejected these allegations, stating that all admissions at the medical college have been conducted strictly on merit, not religion. Officials emphasized that the selection process adheres to prescribed norms and regulations applicable to medical admissions across the country.
Authorities confirmed that the situation remained peaceful, with robust security arrangements implemented as a precautionary measure to maintain public order in the high-security zone. The Civil Secretariat area has been cordoned off to prevent any breach of security.
