SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s subsequent flag-off events in Katra and Uri brought different things for different sets of people in J&K: a special pilgrimage train that would fetch devotees nonstop from New Delhi to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, 240 Megawatts hydro electric power project for NHPC that would share the paltry 12% royalty with J&K, and a 12-hour halt reinforced by the arbitrary official curbs and shutdown which the separatists had raced to call for.
On the first Friday of the holy month of Ramazan, Muslim in most of Srinagar remained caged and could not pray at larger mosques including the historic Jamia Masjid. Reports said curfew-like restrictions in old Srinagar and a complete lockdown halted life across Kashmir. Elsewhere protesters clashed with Police and demonstrations were staged at various places.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi had landed in the state to inaugurate Katra railway line in Jammu. He later chaired a high-level security meet in Srinagars Badami Bagh Cantonment and inaugurated. It was Modis maiden visit to state as Prime Minister of India.
The call for shutdown was given by almost all pro-freedom leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik and Shabir Ahmad Shah while the chief of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and United Jihad Council Syed Salahuddin had extended support the call.
Hundreds of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force personal were deployed across the downtown areas falling under five police stations including MR Gunj, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Rainawari and Safakadal.
The government forces had erected spools of concertina wire and parked armored vehicles right across the roads in order to restrict civilian movement, witnesses said. The forces had blocked main squares and bridges of city including Nawab Bazar, Rajouri Kadal, Bhori Kadal, Khanyar, Nawakadal and Kawdara.
The historic old Srinagar areas wore a deserted look with forces personal deployed at every nook and corner.
Though there were no restrictions in uptown Srinagar, most of the shops, commercial establishments, schools, colleges, banks and petrol pumps remained closed. The attendance in government offices was also recorded thin due to curfew and non-availability of transport.
Witnesses and sources said the authorities had deployed extra police and paramilitary personal in the Civil Lines areas to curb the protests and maintain law and order.
However, despite strict security measures, protests broke out at various places in the city.
GNS quoting witnesses and sources reported that a group of youth took to streets at Chota Bazar in Kani Kadal area of the city and shouted pro-freedom and anti-India slogans and also burnt tires on the road.
In the neighboring Balgarden locality, a peaceful protest was also held after Friday prayers outside main mosque of the locality. Local sources said the protesters were chanting pro-freedom and pro-slogans. In the volatile Maisuma, a peaceful protest against Modis visit was held, witnesses said. Late in the evening hours youth at Gojwara tried to take out a procession but they were intercepted by the forces. They divided themselves into groups and engaged forces in a pitched fight. Locals said police and CRPF men fired dozens of tear-smoke shells, some of which landed inside few houses.
In uptown areas of Barzulla and Kralpora, peaceful pro-freedom and anti-India protests were held by people.
The Budgam and Ganderbal districts of central Kashmir also observed a complete shutdown against PMs visit.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown observed in all the districts of north Kashmir including Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora while protests and clashes also broke out at many places, agency reports said.
In Sopore town of Baramulla district, a protest rally was carried out from Jamia Masjid soon after Friday prayers in which hundreds of people participated, witnesses said. They said the protesters were chanting pro-freedom, pro-Islam and anti-India slogans. The rally concluded peacefully, they said. At Khanpora Bridge in Baramulla town, youth clashed with government forces, witnesses said. However, later they dispersed.
Reports informed that a youth in North Kashmirs Bandipora district sustained injuries during clashes between government forces and protesters, police sources said.
They added that a youth identified as Shariq Ahmad Bhat son of Muhammad Ashraf Bhat sustained critical injuries in his one eye after he was apparently hit by a stone during clashes at Papchan in the district.
The injured was immediately shifted to Srinagars SMHS hospital where he is being treated upon, sources added.
The clashes were reported from volatile Palhallan hamlet of the district after Friday prayers.
The youth and government forces also clashed at Gulshan Chowk in Bandipora district, sources said.
Like north and central Kashmir, a complete shutdown was also observed in south Kashmir areas.
Witnesses said that shutdown was observed in Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian and Anantnag districts with protests at few places.
Reports said peaceful protests were held in Anantnag and Pulwama townships after Friday prayers.
Meanwhile, pro-freedom leaders have thanked Kashmir people for observing shutdown against Modis visit.
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