Jammu:Anti-Pakistan protests rocked Jammu and Udhampur districts today against the killing of 17 jawans in a terror attack on an army base in Uri in Kashmir.

Condemning the loss of lives of 17 soldiers in the attack, the local Shiv Sena and Dogra Front workers here staged a protest during which they raised slogans against Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the neighbouring nation for “encouraging terror activities” in India.

Led by its President Ashok Gupta, the protesters gathered in large numbers and raised anti-Pakistan slogans and also burnt Pakistani flags during the protest.

Heavily armed militants suspected to be from Pakistan-based JeM stormed an army base in Uri in Kashmir killing 17 jawans, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assert that those responsible “will not go unpunished”.

Speaking to reporters, Gupta said, “We condemn it. We are angry over it. It is clear that 17 people have died. There is sorrow everywhere and (some people) are making fool out of India. There is shutdown everywhere in Kashmir against India.”

“Pakistan should be nailed. Time has come to teach them a lesson. Centre should act now,” he said.

“If the people want to go Pakistan then open the border gates and whoever wants to go let them go there. No Pakistani should be seen in Jammu and Kashmir be it Hurriyat. I want to make it clear that now it’s time for Modi to show his 56-inch chest,” Gupta said.

The activists of Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers party (JKNPP) led by President Balwant Singh Mankotia today held a protest against Pakistan.

They blocked National Highway at Slathia Chowk and torched the effigy of Pakistan for “sponsoring militancy in India territory and waging war against India” amid raising of anti-Pakistan slogans.

While addressing the gathering, Mankotia urged the Central government to take direct action against Pakistan for “repeatedly interfering in India territory and targeting army camps as well as civilians” for the last more than thirty years.

Mankotia demanded that militants’ training camp running in PoK should be destroyed without further delay so that the “Pakistan-sponsored militancy can be rooted out from Indian soil”.

He claimed that the root cause of infiltration in Indian territory are training camps running in PoK in which the militants are trained by Pakistan and sent to India territory for disturbance.

“If these camps are destroyed, the infiltration will be controlled automatically. Centre should take a call on it,” he said.

A large number of Shiv Sena workers also held protests at a function in Bari Brahamana area here against Pakistan.

State President Dimpy Kohli condemned the attack and said that the condition of the whole state, particularly Kashmir Valley was becoming “worse” with each passing day and Central Government was “sitting as a mute spectator” to all this.

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad Jammu Mahanagar held a protest at Central University of Jammu.

The activists of ABVP burnt an effigy of Sharif and raised Slogans like “Pakistan Murdabaad”, “Indian Army Zindabaad” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”.

Speaking to the media persons, Rajinder Kumar, President Central University of Jammu, demanded stern action against those responsible for the terror attack.

PTI