Lal Chowk Sealed Off to Prevent Hurriyat March 

SRINAGAR —  The district authorities on Tuesday imposed curbs in parts of this capital city and detained senior resistance leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik to foil the march to Lal Chowk called by Joint Resistance leadership against the ‘killing spree’ including that of seven civilians in Kulgam district.

Reports said that strict restrictions were imposed in and around Lal Chowk to scuttle the protest march called by JRL against the fresh spate of killings by the government forces in the Valley.

Lal Chowk, the commercial hub of the city presented a deserted look with all shops and offices closed. Only government forces were seen today in the city centre, which was sealed with spools of razor wire and barricades, reports said. Forces had also blocked all entry points leading to the city centre with barricades and concertina wire.

However, despite curbs and stringent security measures, JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik, who had gone into hiding ahead of the proposed Lal Chowk march, surfaced at Koker Bazaar here this morning and tried to take out the JRL called rally. However, before he could reach the historic Ganta Ghar, policemen detained Malik and took him to the nearby police station, reports said.

“At every nook and corner of the Valley, young boys are being killed. We only see coffins of these young men. And the irony is that we are even barred from mourning. Peaceful protests are not being allowed,” Malik told reporters before he was taken into custody.

The JKLF chief said that the JRL has decided that if the government doesn’t stop the new cycle of killings, atrocities and repression, the people will be called upon get ready for a long agitation.

Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also detained when he tried to march towards Lal Chowk after scaling wall of his residence in Nigeen.

“Jammu and Kashmir has been turned into a slaughter house. Innocent youth are being killed in CASO. Anti-tank missiles are being used to destroy homes. Pregnant women are being killed,” Mirwaiz said.

He said that the government of India has made it a state policy to carry out genocide in Jammu and Kashmir and calling for any probe into human rights violations by the forces will be waste of time.

“The time has come when we all have to come together to stop the genocide of Kashmiris. We all have to stand up and fight the injustice,” he said.

However, the chairman of parallel faction Syed Ali Geelani was not allowed by cops to step out of his Hyderpora residence.

In Lal Chowk, trade bodies staged peaceful demonstrations in this capital city in response to the call given by JRL.

Dozens of members of Kashmir chamber of commerce and industry (KCCI) this morning assembled at Regal Chowk and staged a protest to express solidarity with the families of the people killed in south Kashmir’s Kulgam.

“Every killing, every strike and every large-scale disturbance demands and calls for the resolution of Kashmir dispute. The KCCI calls upon human rights groups wherever they are, to report events which shake the conscience of the society and bring them into the notice of world community,” Vice President KCCI, Naseer Hamid Khan said.

Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) and Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) also staged protest over the alleged genocide of Kashmiris by the government forces.

Members of High Court Bar Association also took out a protest march against the alleged human rights violations committed by the government forces. The bar members were led by its President Mian Abdul Qayoom.

Meanwhile, protests and clashes broke out in parts of Srinagar and south Kashmir’s Pulwama, as a shutdown was observed in parts of the Valley against the fresh spate of killings.

Groups of youth clashed with government forces in Nawab Bazar, Chattabal, Parimpora, JVC and other parts of Srinagar, reports said. The government forces burst tear smoke shells to disperse the angry protesters.

At Wathura, Chadura in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, forces used tear smoke shells after angry youth pelted rocks at them.

Clashes were also reported from Kadlabal area of Pampore area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

 Amid JRL Call, Roads Leading To Kulgam To Be Closed Today  

Strike Called On Saturday

Authorities have decided to seal off all roads leading to Kulgam in wake of the protest march called by Joint Resistance Leadership against the killing of seven civilians in the south Kashmir district tomorrow.

Officials said that strict restriction will be imposed in “sensitive” areas in south Kashmir while deployments of government forces will be made in Old City and ‘if the need arises, restrictions will be imposed there also.”

A senior police officer, who was part of the security review meeting held on Tuesday evening, said that while restrictions will be imposed in sensitive parts of south Kashmir, all road leading to Kulgam will be closed.

 He said that advisory has been given to all district magistrates and it is for them to take a call regarding closing and rescheduling the examinations.

Asked whether the advisory is of general nature, he said that it was based on reports and varies from district to district.

Meanwhile, railway authorities have decided to suspend train service in Kashmir Valley tomorrow.

“Due to apprehensions of Law & order problem in the valley tomorrow on 24.10.2018, train operation on Banihal-Baramulla section of Kashmir Valley shall remain suspended on 24/10/2018,” a railway official said.

The JRL comprising Syed Ali Geelani,Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Mallik earlier in the day said that on Wednesday people, especially those living in south Kashmir districts will march towards village Laroo in Kulgam district to express sympathy and the solidarity with the families who lost their loved ones in the “Kulgam massacre by Indian forces.”

“The march to Kulgam is to convey to the people of Laroo that people of entire Kashmir are with them and share their grief and pain and that they are not alone against the ultimate repression unleashed to crush the peoples’ demand for the right to self-determination,” they said in a statement issued here

JRL said that on October 26 (Friday), Imams of all shrines, masjids and Imam Baras across Kashmir will raise their voice against the killing of innocent people in Kulgam and also stage peaceful protests after Friday prayers against the bloodshed in Kulgam. The JRL also urged Imans to lead special prayers for all martyrs of Kashmir, especially those martyred recently at Kulgam.

The JRL also said  that on October 27 (Saturday)  the “black day of Kashmir history”, will be observed by all as “Occupation Day” as it was on this day in 1947, that Indian troops landed in Kashmir to “occupy us and our land and since then lakhs of forces continue to occupy us and our land illegally.”

A complete protest strike will be observed on that day. JRL appeals to Kashmir diaspora on both sides of ceasefire line to observe the day in solidarity with their Kashmiri brethren and in whatever country they are educate the people through posters banners placards about the Kashmir dispute and grave human rights abuses here.

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