Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 22: Government today imposed curfew like restrictions in parts of Srinagar and Anantnag during which protesters and Shia mourners clashed with Police. The restrictions will continue tomorrow as a precautionary measure as separatists have called for protests.
Government today imposed restrictions in the areas falling under Police Stations of Maisuma, Ram Munshi Bagh, Karan Nagar and Shaheed Gunj in Srinagar as a precautionary measure.
Separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabir Ahmad Shah and several other leaders were put under house arrest by police since last evening and chairman of JKLF, Mohammad Yasin Malik and its senior leader Javed Ahmad Mir were arrested.
Police and para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were heavily deployed at Jehangir Chowk, Shaheed Gunj, Maisuma, Karan Nagar, Lal Chowk, Abi Guzar, Budshah Chowk, Regal Chowk, Dalgate, TRC, Gaw Kadal, Basant Bagh and Batamaloo areas to prevent Shia mourners from taking out Moharram processions.
However, despite restrictions, mourners appeared at Shaheed Gunj, Batamaloo, Kani Kadal and Jehangir Chowk areas and tried to carry out processions but Police and CRPF foiled their attempt.
Police used batons and fired tear smoke shells to disperse them and foiled their procession. Scores of mourners were detained by police and taken to Police Stations. However, they were later let off in the evening.
The clashes in the morning and evening also broke out at Maisuma area between police and protesters. The protesters pelted stones at police and they fired tear smoke. Maisuma is on boil for last three days and there have been clashes between police and protesters.
And ahead of protest call by separatist leaders, authorities have decided to impose restriction in seven police station areas of Srinagar city as a precautionary measure.
The restrictions would be imposed in areas falling under Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Safa Kadal, Khanyar, Maisuma and Kral Khud police Stations of Srinagar.
The decision to impose restrictions was taken in view of the call of protest by Hurriyat Conference chairmen, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq against the killing of truck conductor Zahid.
Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has invited JKLF chairman Yasin Malik and Geelani for joint protest demonstration at Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta tomorrow.
In South Kashmir’s Anantnag district curfew-like restrictions continued today after continued protests and clashes in the area since Sunday against the killing of truck conductor, Zahid Rasool Bhat.
Police and CRPF men were deployed in strength in Anantnag town and other sensitive areas. The restrictions were also imposed in Botengoo and Bijbehera areas of the district while the spontaneous shutdown in other parts of the district continued. Parts of Kulgam district also observed a shutdown against the killing.
Protesters clashed with police at various places in Anantnag and Bijbehera towns soon after police and CRPF was withdrawn in the evening. At KP road protesters attacked a police party with a petrol bomb. However, no one was injured. Protests were also reported from Devsar area of Kulgam district.
The curfew-life restrictions in the Anantnag will continue tomorrow in view of protest call given by separatists.
Meanwhile, Police spokesman said that a man was injured in stone pelting by miscreants at Charsoo, Awantipora area of Pulwama district yesterday. He has been admitted in SKIMS Soura, Srinagar and is in critical condition.
Police said that a tanker driver, Javed Ahmed Sofi of Sethar Bijbehara, was on his way back home yesterday with another tanker driver Manzoor Ahmed in his tanker bearing registration number JK01J-0711. “Upon reaching Charsoo, Awantipora, a group of miscreants who had blocked the road pelted stones on the tanker, one of which hit Javed on the forehead. He was badly injured and rushed to SMHS from where he was referred to SKIMS Soura late last night. Doctors had to operate upon him during the night after which he was moved to the ICU where he continued to be on ventilator and his condition remains critical”, the spokesman said.
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