Restrictions, strike cripple normal life
SRINAGAR: Kashmir Valley Wednesday observed a complete shutdown to mark the 31st anniversary of the hanging of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) founder and pro-independence ideologue, Muhammad Maqbool Bhat. Authorities maintained restrictions for the third consecutive day in the parts of old city confining residents indoors.
An attempt by JKLF to lead a march from Maisuma to the United Nations Office in Sonwar was foiled by the police resulting in clashes in the area.
Maqbool was hanged on February 11, 1984 by Govt of India in Delhis Tihar Jail. GOI refused to handover body of Maqbool to his family in Kashmir and instead buried him secretly inside the jail premises.
Eversince a full blown pro-independence movement broke-out six years after Maqbools death, Kashmiri leaders have been demanding return of his remains to Kashmir without any success.
Todays call for shutdown to press GOI to return the mortal remains of Maqbool Bhat, was given by all leading separatist leaders including Yasin Malik of JKLF besides the Hurriyat leadership.
According to reporters, hundreds of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personal in riot gear were deployed in sensitive areas falling under five police stations including Khanyar, Safakadal, Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta and Khanyar.
Witnesses said the CRPF imposed curbs in the Old City to contain protests. They had erected concertina wires and parked armoured vehicles at various junctions and bridges of the downtown.
The lanes and by-lanes of the downtown wore a deserted look while very less civilian movement was witnessed.
The downtown is reeling under restrictions since Monday when a shutdown was observed on the second anniversary of Muhammad Afzal Guru. The restrictions continued on Tuesday after shutdown was called by pro-freedom leaders against the killing of a youth in Palhallan by police during protests on Monday evening.
A 23-year old youth identified as Farooq Ahmad Bhat was critically injured along with three other persons after police opened fire on protesters in the Palhallan. However, Farooq succumbed to his injuries later triggering protests and clashes.
In summer capital Srinagar, almost all the shops, commercial establishments and petrol pumps were closed in the Civil Lines areas of the City. The government offices and banks recorded low attendance while schools and colleges were already closed on the account of winter vacations. However, fewer public and private plied in uptown areas of the City.
The police had deployed its men in volatile Maisuma and Gaw Kadal localities of the city to stop a scheduled JKLF march to UN office.
However scores of JKLF activists led by vice-president, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, took out a march from JKLF headquarters in Maisuma. Holding placards and a banners demanding Maqbools remains, protesters chanted slogans in favour of Maqbool Bhat and against civilian killings.
Witnesses said the police detained several JKLF activists and foiled their march.
The police action enraged the JKLF activists and they resorted to stone pelting on them ensuing clashes between the two sides. The police chased away the protesters and situation returned to normal later.
A peaceful pro-freedom protest was also held at Trehgam the native village of Maqbool Bhat by his family members and other people in Kupwara district.
Meanwhile, violent clashes between anti-India protesters erupted in Palhallan hamlet for the third straight day. The protesters, amid pro-freedom slogans, resorted to heavy stone-pelting on police and paramilitary personnel deployed in the area. The police resorted to teargas shelling to disperse the protesters. The intermittent clashes continued in the area throughout the day.
Reports of shutdown were received from all the districts of valley on Maqbool Bhats death anniversary.
Meanwhile, clashes erupted in parts of downtown after authorities lifted restrictions, residents said. Police used tear smoke shells to disperse the stone-throwing youth.
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