Shutdown, restrictions cripples life in valley
SRINAGAR: A complete shutdown marked the Martyrs Day in Kashmir on Saturday while authorities resorted to clamp-down and imposed restrictions to foil the proposed march by the Hurriyat Conference.
Both the factions of Hurriyat Conference had urged the people to march towards the Martyrs graveyard at Naqshband Sahab in old city to pay tributes to the 1931 martyrs.
As the morning broke, heavy contingents of police and paramilitary CRPF men sealed all the entry points to the city by erecting barricades and concertina wire on the roads to restrict the movement of people.
Shops, business establishments and other commercial establishments remained closed while public transport was off the roads. Mostly CRPF and police personnel were seen dotting the roads.
In old city, the force personnel in battle gear patrolled the lanes and by lanes in a bid to restrict the movement of residents and to thwart any protests. Residents of many old city localities particularly those around Martyrs Graveyard and Jamia Mosque complained that they werent allowed to move outside of their houses. We were not allowed to go outside. Whosoever tried to step out was driven away by the police and CRPF men. We were forced to stay indoors, Ashiq Ahmad, a resident of Hawal said.
The authorities had imposed section 144 CrPc in Srinagar- which bars the gathering of more than four people at one place. In uptown city, complete shutdown was observed. Govt forces had erected the barricades at Panthacowk and Shalteng crossing to prevent vehicles coming from south and north Kashmir into Srinagar.
Restrictions were imposed in most parts of the old city that include areas falling under police stations of Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, MR Gunj, Safakadal and Kralkhud.
In Khanyar area of the old Srinagar where the Martyrs Graveyard is located, police and CRPF laid razor wires and erected barricades at road junctions since Friday evening to stop the movement of people. Besides the fortification of the area around the graveyard, armored vehicles of police and CRPF were also seen at road junctions.
When we woke up today morning there were only police and CRPF men around. They did not make any announcement of curfew but for whole day we were forced to stay indoors, Wasim Bhat, a local resident said. He added that residents were not allowed to purchase eatables and other essentials.
Meanwhile, scores of youth on Saturday morning attacked a police vehicle by pelting stones resulting to injury to a police man in Khanyar area of Old city.
Similar reports of complete strike were also reported from Ganderbal, Budgam. Baramulla, Kupwara, Handwara, Sopore, Bandipore, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian districts. All shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads.
Reports said in north Kashmirs Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara and Bandipore areas shutdown was observed. Hundreds of people marched from Mirgund on Srinagar-Baramulla highway towards Srinagar. Chanting pro-Azadi slogans people marched from Mirgund but were stopped by police near Narbal where they dispersed peacefully.
The situation in the otherwise volatile north Kashmir remained by and large peaceful.
In south Kashmir complete strike was observed in Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian and other districts, reports added.
A police spokesperson said that situation remained peaceful throughout the day.
Almost all key separatist leaders were placed under house arrest. Chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conferences Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other senior leaders including chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik, Ittehadul Muslimeen patron Maulana Abbas Ansari, Anjuman-e-Sharie Shiayan head Agha Syed Hassan, Democratic Freedom Party Chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah, Peoples Conference leader Bilal Gani Lone and National Front Chairman Nayeem Ahmad Khan were among those confined to their homes by the police.
Pro-India leaders meanwhile made a beeline to the martyrs graveyard where they paid floral tributes to the martyrs.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the Naqshband Sahib Martyrs graveyard and paid floral tributes to the martyrs. Omar and his entourage arrived at the venue this morning amidst tight security. However, the Chief Minister did not address people who had assembled at the Martyrs Graveyard.
Peoples Democratic Party Patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed visited the Naqashband sahib Shrine and paid floral tributes to martyrs. Hakim Yasin, M Y Tarigami, Gh Hassan Mir also visited the martyrs graveyard.
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