Police used tear gas shells and resorted to caning to disperse a mob protesting the installation of a toll plaza at Sarore in Jammu’s Samba on Wednesday amid a surge in agitation against the alleged anti-Dogra policies of the BJP-led government at the Centre.

Police sources said the mob blocked the Jammu-Kathua national highway and threw stones at them, prompting the cops to retaliate.

The road was blocked for hours before a strong contingent of police and paramilitary personnel cleared it.

Hundreds of people took to the streets in Jammu in support of the protests led by the Yuva Rajput Sabha that have been continuing for the third consecutive day. Some of them raised slogans such as “LG go back” and “BJP Murdabad”.

The police had on Monday evening arrested 26 leaders and members of the Sabha and shifted them to Kathua jail at night.