Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 15: Authorities today foiled separatist public rally at Anantnag town by imposing restrictions in Anantnag town and parts of Srinagar while senior resistance separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was detained by police as he attempted to march towards Anantnag from his residence.
Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sealed off Anantnag town this morning to foil the separatist rally at Lal Chowk. Hundreds of security forces were deployed in the Main Town of Anantnag, who enforced the restrictions strictly. The roads leading to Anantnag town were sealed off by the security forces.
Security forces had erected iron barricades and used concertina wire to block the roads to prevent movement of the people and the vehicles.
In Kadipora area of Old Anantnag town, youth took to streets and clashed with security forces. Police used teargas to disperse the protesters but they offered stiff resistance and continued pelting stones on the security forces. The clashes in the area continued for several hours.
Restrictions were also imposed in parts of Srinagar’s old city area areas including Nowhatta, Rajouri Kadal, Bohri Kadal, Nawa Kadal and adjoining localities. Police and CRPF were deployed in strength in these areas while no Friday prayers were allowed in Jama Masjid Srinagar.
Security forces had erected iron barricades and used concertina wire to block the roads to prevent movement of the people and the vehicles in Old City areas. However, the situation in the Old City remained peaceful.
In Srinagar here, police detained Mirwaiz Umar Farooq after he defied his house arrest and tried to head towards Anantnag with his associates. A large contingent of police stopped Mirwaiz and his associates. Police detained Mirwaiz and he was taken to SP Hazratbal’s office.
To foil the rally, police placed Syed Ali Shah Geelani under house arrest while Yasin Malik was lodged in Central Jail Srinagar.
Several separatist activists and leaders were also detained and lodged in various police stations in Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag. They include Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Aga Syed Al Hasaan Al Mosvi, Musaddiq Adil, GN Zaki, Mukhtar Waza, Muhammad Ashraf Laya, Engineer Hilal Ahmed War, Bilal Sidiqi, Muhammad Yousuf Naqash, Molvi Bashir Irfani, Muhammad Yasin Attai and Imtiyaz Haider.
In the meantime, authorities today suspended rail services from Baramulla to Banihal as a precautionary measure. The rail services were suspended following proposed separatist rally in Anantnag town.
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