Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 21: Government today imposed curfew like restrictions in six Police Station areas of Srinagar’s old city to foil plans of Hurriyat Conference (M) to observe the death anniversary of its two leaders.
Restrictions on the movement of people were imposed in Khanyar, Safakadal, Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta, Rainawari and Maisuma Police Station areas as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.
Large numbers of police and para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were deployed in entire old city area and roads leading to Eidgah where the function was to be held were blocked with concertina wires and no one was allowed to make any movement.
However, police said that there were apprehensions of law and order problems during the Hurriyat Conference rally at Eidgah on old city area that led to imposition of restrictions.
Police and CRPF were patrolling the streets of the old city to prevent Mirwaiz supporters to take out any rally to commemorate the death anniversary of Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq who was killed 25 years ago on this date.
The official said the situation across the Valley was peaceful so far with no untoward incident reported from anywhere.
The Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest yesterday, a day ahead of the rally to commemorate the death anniversary of his father, who was killed by gunmen in 1990.
A Hurriyat spokesman condemned the house arrest of Mirwaiz and termed it aggression of the Government. “It is state sponsored terrorism and an example of aggressive politics. When Kashmiris were peacefully organizing Hafta Shahadat to remember Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq, Abdul Gani Lone, Hawal martyrs and other lakhs of Kashmiri martyrs, placing him under house arrest was like rubbing salt on the wounds of Kashmiris,” the spokesman said.
Lone was shot dead by gunmen during a commemoration rally for Mirwaiz Farooq on May 21 in 2002.
Normal life in the Valley was affected due to the strike call given by Hurriyat for marking the death anniversary of its slain leaders.
Schools and business establishments were closed in most parts of the valley but some schools in the interiors of the city were functional.
Public transport remained off the roads but private vehicles could be seen plying on the roads in the city and other parts of the Valley.
Situation across Valley remained peaceful, however, there were protests in Palhalan area of Baramulla district where protesters pelted stones on police and CRPF. Police fired tearsmoke shells and charged batons on them to foil the protests.
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