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Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 25: The shutdown paralysed normal life for 109th consecutive day today in Kashmir while police arrested main accused in the torching of two Taxis in Srinagar early this month.
Security forces were deployed in strength in five police station areas of Srinagar’s Old City – MR Gunj, Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, Rainawari and Khanyar – and Habba Kadal and Maisuma areas since early morning to prevent any violence. There was, however, civilian movement without any disruption in all these areas.
In Civil Line and uptown areas of the Srinagar, there was extra-ordinary movement of private transport and pedestrians since early morning but all the shops, commercial establishments and educational institutes were closed. Besides, the vendors had set up their stalls at Batamaloo, Lal Chowk, Dalgate, Sonwar, Jehangir Chowk, Exhibition Crossing and Jawahar Nagar. In the evening, markets across Srinagar opened and city centre Lal Chowk witnessed huge rush of people.
During the day, the protests and clashes were reported from few parts of Valley. These protests also include women while youth enforced shutdown at Murran in Pulwama district.
According to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, the situation remained normal across the Valley with considerable increase in vehicles and pedestrian movement in Srinagar and other main towns today. “The shops were seen open and busy in their business in many parts of the Valley. In chowks and on busy streets large number of vendors remained busy in their routine job,” it said.
Police said that no untoward incident was reported from any part of the Valley. The statement said that adequate deployment of police and security forces was made at vulnerable points in Srinagar city, in main towns as also on the roads, lanes and by-lanes connecting different places.
Police said that today morning some unknown miscreants set on fire Higher Secondary School Building Aishmuqam in the jurisdiction of police station Aishmuqam, Anantnag, resulting in some damage to the building. “The fire was brought under control by fire tenders with the assistance of police and locals. Anantnag police has registered a case in this regard,” it said.
A police spokesman said the fire broke out in the Government High School Goripora at Noorbagh here, resulting in damage to the structure. Fire was brought under control by fire tenders, he said.
In another incident, fire broke out in Government Middle School Bon Mohalla at Sumbal in Bandipora district, resulting partial damage to the building. Cause of fire is being ascertained, he said.
Police said that main accused in the torching of two sumo vehicles in Parimpora on October 17, Mehraj-ud-din Ganai alias Raju alias Zaid son of Mohammad Sikander Ganai resident of Parimpora was arrested by Srinagar police today.
Meanwhile, three armed men today looted a bank on gunpoint in Kulgam district of south Kashmir. The gunmen, who were all wearing masks, entered the Jammu and Kashmir Bank branch at Kadder in Kulgam district and looted Rs 2.25 lakh.
Police reached the spot after being alerted by the bank employees. A case has been registered and investigations are going on into the incident.
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