Curfew like restrictions in old city

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 14:Kashmir valley is on high alert on the occasion of Independence Day celebrations after recent spurt in militant violence in Kashmir valley and curfew like restrictions that were imposed in parts of Srinagar ahead of August 15.
Although, security agencies said that there are no inputs suggesting any militant strike on the occasion of Independence Day but they are leaving no stone unturned for incident free celebrations.
Even the vigil along the Line of Control (LoC) has been intensified to prevent infiltrators from carrying out Mohra type of attacks near the LoC in which militants crossed the LoC last year in December and carried out a strike on an Army camp in Mohra Uri in North Kashmir.
Due to increased security presence and frequent security check points set up across Kashmir valley, especially in and around Srinagar, normal life in capital city remained disrupted with roads and streets presenting almost a deserted look.
The schools in Srinagar remained closed due to heightened security and barricades erected by Police and Para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) across the city and curfew like restrictions in parts of Srinagar.
The heightened security presence forced majority of the people to stay indoors with majority of the shops and business establishments closed in Srinagar and major towns of Kashmir valley.
Authorities  imposed curfew-like restrictions in old city and in Maisuma to prevent protests and unfurling of Pakistan flags.
Hundreds of police and CRPF men were deployed in the areas falling under five police stations including Khanyar, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Maharaj Gunj and Safakdal to impose restrictions on the movement of civilians.
Main roads leading to Old City were barricaded with concertina wires and iron barricades to stop vehicular and civilian movement. It was intensified in the afternoon to prevent people from assembling in and around Jamia Masjid which has witnessed clashes on Friday’s for past two months and hoisting of Pakistani and ISIS flags.
Police and CRPF men deployed at Jamia Masjid barred people from offering Friday prayers. Police said that it was done as a preventive measure to avoid clashes and hoisting of Pakistan flags on the occasion of Pakistan Independence Day.
The restrictions were also imposed in sensitive Maisuma with police and CRPF closing all the entry and exit points with barbed wires.
Despite strict vigil, Pakistan flags appeared at many places in Kashmir. The chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Millat Asiya Andrabi and her supporters unfurled Pakistan flags in Soura, Illahi Bagh, Nowshehra and  Buchpora. They also held a function to celebrate the Pakistan Independence Day and sang Pakistan national anthem and later released its video.
The Pakistan flags were also raised atop on mobile towers in various parts of the city. The youths waved Pakistan flags at Habba Kadal, Old Barzulla and also in Khudwani Kulgam and Shopian.
The separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were put under house arrest on the occasion as a precautionary measure and JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was arrested and so were several separatist leaders and activists.

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