Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, July 25: Police today foiled Anantnag march of separatists by arresting Chairmen of both the factions of Hurriyat Conference, even as curfew and restrictions coupled with shut down paralysed life in Kashmir for the 17th consecutive day today.
Police today foiled the separatists march to Anantnag where more than 16 people died in violence in the aftermath of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
Police this afternoon detained Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani outside his residence at Hyderpora when he tried to take out a protest march to Anantnag. He was taken to police station Humhama.
Police also detained Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq when he tried to defy restrictions and march towards Anantnag from his residence in Nageen. Police was waiting outside his residence and they detained him and lodged him in nearby police station Nageen.
All the roads leading to Anantnag were sealed by security forces including Army to foil the separatist march. Police and security forces had erected barricades at multiple places and authorities stepped out security across Valley.
Curfew remained in place in Anantnag, Baramulla, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian districts of Kashmir today. The areas falling under the jurisdiction of 11 police stations in Srinagar were also placed under curfew.
Authorities had imposed restrictions in four districts -Bandipora, Budgam, Ganderbal and Kupwara and remaining areas of Srinagar city as a precautionary measure to prevent separatist march.
A protest march of hundreds of people at Bijbehara attempted to march towards Anantnag but they were stopped by police, leading to clashes between police and stone throwing protesters in which several protesters injured.
The people at Lazibal, Awantipora and Aanchidora also tried to take out procession and march towards Anantnag town but were stopped by police, sparking off clashes.
Reports said that amid curfew, the people in several parts of Pulwama tried to march towards Anantnag but were stopped by police. A violent protest broke out at Chatpora in Pulwama after police foiled the protest rally towards Anantnag.
There were reports of clashes from several parts of Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal and Baramulla where protesters pelted stones at police and security forces. Security forces fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
At Choon in Central Kashmir district of Budgam protests broke out this afternoon as people from several villages were trying to carry out a protest march. The protesters clashed with police at several places. One police vehicle was also thrown in a stream in which four police men were injured. Several protesters were also injured in the clashes.
A police spokesman said here: “The situation throughout the Kashmir valley remained peaceful and under control today. There was no curfew in most of the towns/areas of Kashmir valley although curfew remained imposed in 12 police station areas of Srinagar and towns of Awantipora, Kulgam, Baramulla, Pattan and Anantnag. Karwan-i-Aman bus service resumed today and 73 passengers left Srinagar in morning and reached Kaman Post, Uri safely.
“There were no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere in the Valley although some stray stone pelting incidents were reported from some places.”
The normal life in Kashmir remained disrupted for 16th consecutive day today due to curfew and restrictions by Government and shutdown by the separatists. So far 47 people including two cops were killed and over 5500 were injured in clashes since July 8.
The train services between Banihal and Baramulla remained shut since then and traffic on the roads including National Highway is off. However, during the night vehicles carrying Amarnath yatris are plying on the highway besides security force convoys.
The mobile telephony, mobile internet services remained suspended as a precautionary measure to prevent more trouble. The schools, colleges and other educational institutions that officially opened after summer vacations today in entire Kashmir also remained closed due to a strike called by the separatist groups.
The shops and Government offices are shut and people face lot of difficulties. However, some grocery shops and those selling essentials open briefly late in the evening and early in the morning and people are seen buying essentials.
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