Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 21: Authorities today imposed strict restrictions in areas falling under seven Police Stations of Srinagar city to scuttle scheduled Eidgah march called by moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to commemorate assassination anniversaries of his father, Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq and People’s Conference founder Abdul Gani Lone.
Since morning, hundreds of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were deployed across Old City’s Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, Rainawari and Khanyar police station areas and also in Nigeen and Maisuma. The security forces had erected concertina wires, barricades and mobile bunkers to prevent workers of Mirwaiz’s Awami Action Committee (AAC) to take out rally towards martyrs’ graveyard Eidgah.
The situation by and large remained peaceful in areas placed under restrictions throughout the day and there was no attempt by separatists to march towards Eidgah. However, the supporters and workers of AAC tried to take out a rally from Nowshehra area on Old City outskirts but the security forces foiled their attempt by lobbing teargas shells. The marchers pelted stones on security forces and the clash between two sides continued for nearly an hour. Reports said two dozen activists of AAC were also detained.
The other parts of Srinagar observed a complete shutdown on the call of Hurriyat but situation remained peaceful. All the shops and commercial establishments remained closed in the City while educational institutes, banks and government offices were closed on the account of an official holiday. The authorities had deployed contingents of CRPF in sensitive areas. The shutdown was also observed in other parts of the Valley. In Old City, stray incidents of stone-pelting occurred in evening hours.
Police had placed top three separatists including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mohammad Yasin Malik under house arrest. Mirwaiz in a statement condemned the restrictions by Government on the rally and asserted that force is in no way a solution to the Kashmir issue.
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