PULWAMA: Life failed to return to normalcy in South Kashmirs Pulwama district after locals alleged that administration back tracked from its promise as police informed them that they will not be allowed to erect Martyrs Memorial in the Shaheed Park.
Normalcy was thought to return to the strife-torn town yesterday after continuous shutdown that lasted for fourteen days on Thursday, but during early hours groups of youth used public address system in the district informing people to carry on with shutdown.
Grand Imam Pulwama Markazi Masjid Molvi Muhammad Akram Dar said that after a successful meeting with Divisional Commissioner and Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone on Wednesday, we all had decided to call off the strike.
During the meeting the administration had agreed that people will be allowed to erect a simple Martyrs hoarding in the Shaheed Park, he said. After the consultations with trades and other people we all had decided to call off the strike, but during late hours at around 10 pm on Wednesday, the top police officials of the district informed us that they have changed their idea and people will not be allowed to erect Martyrs Memorial in the district.
There are martyrs grave yards everywhere in Kashmir Valley and Martyrs Hoardings can be seen even at Martyrs Grave Yard Idgah in Srinagar City, said a trader. We fail to understand why administration is so reluctant when it comes to Pulwama.
Reports said that to express solidarity with the people of Pulwama, scores of areas in the district including Kakapora, Pinglina, Pohu, Bonur, Newa, Karimabad, Pathan and Tahab also observed shutdown. Groups of youth blocked road in Kakapora and Pohu areas and disrupted movement of private traffic.
According to the eyewitnesses, police rushed to spot to disperse the agitating youth, however, they continued to disrupt the traffic on the roads.
Residents of Chatpora, Pirchu, Dangarpora and other areas of the district said that all but 45 youth have been picked up by police and they have been lodged in different police stations of the district. Majority of the arrested youth are minors and innocent, they claimed.
Meanwhile, Police sources said that seven minors who had been arrested on charges of stone-pelting were shifted to Juvenile Home.
A Police official said that, no militant hoarding will come up in the town as it will have negative impact on the youth.
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