SRINAGAR: Official curbs in and around the old city foiled the separatist procession, planned by the Chairman of Hurriyat Conference M Mirwaiz Umar. Police had already confined Mirwaiz to his home at Nigeen whwere he managed to speak to his supporters from behind his fence on Tuesday. The procession was planned to commemorate the assassination anniversaries Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone.
Mirwaiz Farooq, Umar’s father, was shot dead at his Nigeen residence by armed assailants on 21 May 1990. Later the paramilitary personnel fired at his funeral at Hawal in Srinagar, killing dozens of mourners. Ever since, his religio-political outfit Awami Action Committee has been observing martyrs day on May 21.
Every year Mirwaiz would lead mass prayers at Eidgah, Kashmir’s largest graveyard for martyrs. During one such gathering in 2001, unidentified assailants shot dead Abdul Gani Lone, then a senior voice in the united Hurriyat Conference. Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat Conference now observes the joint anniversary of both leaders, and others who were killed during the firing at the funeral, on May 21/22 every year. But for past many years the authorities did not allow separatists to observe mass prayers at Eidgah.
Besides putting curbs in and around the old city, authorities on Wednesday sealed off the Eidgah graveyard.
Severe restrictions were imposed in areas of Old Srinagar City coming under 7 police stations that included police station Maharaj Ganj, Nowhatta, Safakadal, Kral Khud, Khanyar, Zadibal and Rainawari. Contingents of police and Central Reserve Police Force were deployed at several places to thwart any march or protest demonstration. Eidgah was out of bounds for people as the area was sealed by police and CRPF.
Besides downtown, the civil lines area also observed a shutdown on the call of Hurriyat Conference . In most parts of Kashmir, shops, business establishments, schools remained closed, banks and government offices witnessed thin attendance while public transport was largely off the roads.
A top police official said that Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and some other leaders of the conglomerate were placed under house arrest.
A CNS report said shutdown was also observed in Baramulla, Kupwara, Handwara and Bandipora towns of north Kashmir. “In Sopore there was partial shutdown. In South Kashmir also, life was affected due to strike call,” the agency report said.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while addressing a press conference at his Nigeen residence strongly condemned the government restrictions to sabotage Hurriyat’s program of ‘Martyrs Week’.
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