SrinagarThe district administration Srinagar on Wednesday imposed restrictions in parts of capital city as precautionary measures while the traders across Kashmir Valley observed complete shutdown against the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in its current form in the state.
Restrictions under section 144 were imposed in downtown areas falling under the jurisdiction of five Police Stations including Khanyar, Nowhatta, Rainawari, MR Gunj and Safakadal.
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The restrictions were imposed in view of the protests called by the Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee (JKCC), a group of traders and civil societies against highhandedness of the government and GST implementation in JK.
Authorities had deployed contingents of police and paramilitary CRPF personnel on roads in the restriction bound areas. They had erected concertina wires on the main junctions to halt the vehicular movement.
All the shops, business establishments and other establishments across Kashmir, including the business hub Lal Chowk were closed in mark of protest against the GST implementation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, to press the government over their demands, the JKCC today held a sit-in at Clock Tower (Ganta Ghar).
Chanting anti-GST slogans, the traders JKCC members demanded government to stop infringing the special status of JK.
The protesting JKCC members said that they wont allow the government to take any step, which would be against the peoples aspirations. We are ready to sacrifice our lives to safeguard the special status of JK, they said.
Our state has its own constitution and why the government is mulling to implement any other law here. The imminent move of the government is against the aspirations of the people here and the incumbent regime must take any step, which would accommodate the aspirations of people, JKCC said.
However, Police swung into action and detained scores of JKCC members including Muhammad Sadiq Baqal, Zahoor Budshah, Hilal Ahmad Mandoo and others.
The protesting JKCC members were later lodged at Kothibagh Police Station.
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