SRINAGAR: Amid a shutdown across Kashmir against starting of Kousar Nag Yatra, authorities on Saturday imposed restrictions to curb civilian movement in Old City areas.
The call for shutdown was given by Hurriyat Conference G chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and was endorsed by many separatist leaders.
Witnesses said authorities deployed hundreds of police and paramilitary men in the five volatile areas, of the old city this morning forcing people to stay indoors.
The force personnel donning riot gears had erected mobile bunkers and concertina wires on bridges, squares and by lanes in Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, MR Gunj and Safa Kadal areas of the old city to thwart protests.
Reports said that all shops, business establishments, government offices remained closed and public transport remained off the roads.
However, some private vehicles were seen plying on the roads at Srinagar outskirts.
Reports of clashes between protesters and police were received from various areas in the Valley.
A local news agency said that scores of youth assembled near Narbal on the Srinagar-Gulmarg highway and pelted stones on forces which led to the suspension of vehicular movement.
Senior separatist leaders were either detained or placed under house arrest to prevent them from leading any protest demonstrations. The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik was taken into preventive custody on Thursday while other leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Geelani and Shabir Shah were placed under house arrest.
Reports said that south Kashmirs Kulgam district, where Kousar Nag glacial lake is situated, also observed a complete shutdown for the fourth running day on Saturday. However, there were no protests or shutdown in the area.
The three other districts in south Kashmir Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian also observed a shutdown.
Life in central Kashmirs Ganderbal and Budgam districts and in north Kashmirs Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts also remained paralyzed in wake of the shutdown call.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman said that situation across Kashmir remained peaceful on Saturday. Except some untoward incidents, there was in general no disruption in law and order situation, he added.
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