Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Feb 21: Indefinite curfews like restrictions have been imposed in parts of Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir valley on the occasion of Friday tomorrow while chairman of Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, who arrived here this afternoon, was put under house arrest.
The Authorities have imposed restrictions to prevent any violence on the occasion of Friday congregations in Srinagar city and in other major towns as hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference had called for protests across Kashmir valley in favour of return of the body of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru who was hanged early this month and his body was buried in Tihar Jail.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Baseer Ahmad Khan, said here: “In view of law and order situation and to avoid breach of peace and tranquility and damage to life and property, restrictions have been imposed on the movement of public and transport.”
“These restrictions will be under Section 144 CrPC in the jurisdiction of the police stations of Rainawari, Khanyar Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, S.R. Gunj, Zadibal, Soura, Maisuma, Kralkhud, Shaheed Gunj and Batmaloo of district Srinagar from midnight February 21, 2013 with immediate effect till further orders”, he added.
The Deputy Commissioner has directed the SSP, Srinagar, Ashiq Bukhari, to implement this order in letter and spirit.
Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Farooq Ahmad Shah said that restrictions have been imposed in Anantnag, Mattan and Bijbehara townships of the district on the movement of people and transport to maintain peace in these areas.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Ghulam Ahmad Khawaja and Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Khurshid Ahmad Shah have also imposed restrictions on the movement of people and transport in the major towns and district headquarters of Baramulla and Budgam under Section 144 CrPC tomorrow.
Similar restrictions were imposed by the Deputy Commissioners’ of Kulgam, Shopian, Ganderbal, Bandipora and Kupwara districts in their major towns to prevent any violence in these areas.
In the meantime, there was a mixed response to the strike called by the hardline Hurriyat Conference in support of the demand for handing over the body of Afzal Guru.
Geelani, who is under house arrest in Delhi, had called for three day strike in Kashmir to press for the return of Guru’s body to his family. Geelani had called for complete civil curfew on Wednesday and Thursday, while a shutdown after Friday prayers followed by peaceful protests.
The shops and business establishments in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk, old city area remained closed, while in most the shops were open in other parts the Valley.
The public transport remained off the roads in most of the major towns of the Valley. However, some of the private cars were plying in Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir valley.
In Srinagar, outskirts and parts of Civil Lines area, life was near normal as the strike call failed to evoke much of a response in these areas. Majority of the shops were open.
The Government offices and banks in Kashmir valley remained open. However, majority of the employees faced difficulties in reaching their offices due to lack of public transport.
Hundreds of policemen donning riot gear were deployed in the sensitive areas in Srinagar and other towns to thwart any possible protest. However, in Srinagar’s old city areas, the authorities had kept minimum presence of police and para-military forces in the streets. There were no reports of any protests or clashes from old city area. However, shops were closed and hardly few private cars were seen plying in the old city.
A police spokesman said here that situation remained peaceful across the Valley today. “Traffic was partially plying in most of the towns including Srinagar city”, the spokesman added.
He said that today miscreants pelted stones on private and Government vehicles in Kulgam town injuring four persons including a Divisional Forest Officer. “Many vehicles were damaged in the incident including a SRTC Bus bearing registration number JK01Y/0034 and a Car bearing registration number JK03/9873. Kulgam police registered a case FIR Number 38/2013 under Section 307, 147,148,427/RPC in this regard”, the spokesman added.
Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, who arrived in Srinagar this afternoon, was whisked away by Police from Srinagar International Airport and taken to Nageen Police Station. He was immediately shifted to his home and put under house arrest. A large contigent of police was guarding his house and the lanes leading towards his house were sealed with concertina razor wire.
Mirwaiz who was put under house arrest in Delhi on February 9 soon after the hanging of Afzal Guru was allowed to travel to Srinagar today. He was to address a joint session of Hurriyat’s General and Executive council at Hurriyat Conference followed by a press conference and visit to Guru’s family in North Kashmir.
A Hurriyat Conference spokesman denounced his house arrest and restrictions on his movement, snapping his communications.
Mirwaiz said that in the wake of the current situation, the future strategy to move forward would be devised only after taking suggestions from all the constituents of the conglomerate.
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