The police is unnerved by the frequency with which such incidents are taking place.

Though some officials claim the incidents have been blown out of proportion to extract political mileage, many would not like to dismiss it in that manner.

``It definitely is a cause of worry as it has potential to blow up into a major controversy which could vitiate communal atmosphere in the Jammu region,'' an officer admitted.

Considering the demography of the areas where the incidents have taken place, the allegations by various religious groups of a pattern in these acts may not seem far-fetched.

Officials said the acts of sacrilege have taken place in areas with a sizable population of members of a particular community hurt by the incidents.``These have taken place in pockets where we have a large number of members of a particular community. ``And there, getting hurt obviously means there is a problem,'' officials said.

However, Deputy Inspector General, Jammu-Kathua, S K Misra refused to believe there was a pattern in the incidents and said wherever such incidents were reported, action was taken. ``I don't see a design behind these alleged acts,'' Misra said. He, however, agreed that vested interests took advantage of the situation.

Already, the incidents have sparked off large-scale protests. In Jhajhar Kotli, agitated villagers blocked traffic on the National Highway and threatened large-scale unrest while in Kanachak, the protesters gheraoed the police station and manhandled the policemen posted there. Even at Jhangalwar, villagers were incensed.

What has compounded the problem for the police is the fact that various political and religious organisations have hammered the administration over the issue. Organisations like the BajrangDal and Go Raksha Samiti went to the extent of accusing the police of shielding the culprits.

Considering the gravity of the situation, officials agree the incidents have serious political and law and order ramifications. ``Republic Day is round the corner and with resentment amongst a particular community, it is going to be a ticklish issue,'' officials said.

In an attempt to ensure that the situation does not get out of hand, police have not dismissed the incidents as `isolated cases' but have picked up the accused in two of the incidents and claimed that the guilty would not be spared. They even denied allegations that the accused were shielded. ``We have to work as law enforcers and are not going to act in a biased manner. If somebody carries out the act we will punish him as per law,'' an officer claimed.