Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, May 21: Police today foiled separatist march on the occasion of death anniversaries of Hurriyat Conference leaders, Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone, while a strike called by the Hurriyat evoked a mixed response.
Shops, business establishments, schools, banks and other commercial establishments remained mostly closed in Srinagar in response to the strike call. The public transport was off the roads. However, some private vehicles were plying.
The attendance in Government offices, banks and post offices was thin because of non-availability of public transport.
A large contingent of Police and para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was deployed in the sensitive areas of Srinagar city to prevent separatist march.
Mirwaiz Omar Farooq and Syed Ali Geelani were put under house arrest to prevent them leading a protest rally. Several other leaders of the moderate Hurriyat Conference – Moulana Abbas Ansari, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Aga Syed Hassan, Shahid-ul-Islam and Zaffar Akbar Bhat – were also placed under house arrest.
However, some youth and woman tried to carry out protest rally at a couple of places in the old city area. However, police chased them away. Some youth pelted stones at police at Rajouri Kadal, Gojwara, Saraf Kadal and Kawdara areas of Srinagar leading to clashes between police and protesters.
At Bohri Kadal police used force against the stone pelting youth and 3 of them received injuries. One of them Suhail Ahmad who was hit by pellets was critically injured. He was operated in SKIMS hospital in Soura and his condition is stated to be critical.
Reports from various district headquarters including Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Baramulla, Sopore, Anantnag, Kupwara and other areas said that shops and business establishments remained mostly closed while traffic movement was thin.
It may be mentioned here that the Srinagar District Magistrate, Farooq Ahmad Shah, and Senior Superintendent of police, Ashiq Bukhari, called on Mirwaiz last evening to persuade him not to hold the rally as prohibitory orders under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code have been imposed in the city.
On May 21, the death anniversaries of Mirwaiz and Lone are being observed. Mirwaiz Farooq was killed in 1990 while Lone was killed in 2002 on the same day.
Mirwaiz criticized the State Government’s decision of not allowing his party to hold a peaceful march at Eidgah. Mirwaiz said that State Government has conceived a political defeat by not allowing them to organize a peaceful public rally in Eidgah.
President Democratic Party Nationalist (DPN) and Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir paid tributes to late Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq and the founder of Peoples Conference Abdul Gani Lone on their death anniversary.
In a statement, DPN president said that both were visionary leaders of the state who dedicated themselves for the welfare of people and society. Mir said that both the leaders laid down their lives for peace and brotherhood.
And ruling National Conference (NC) also observed the 23rd death anniversary of both the leaders. Rural Development Minister of ruling NC Ali Mohammad Sagar organized a function at his residence which was attended by the local NC workers and a couple of law makers including Minister of State Nazir Gurezi and MLA Zadibal Peer Afaq Ahmad.
Although mainstream political parties have paid tributes to Farooq on his death anniversary through media statements, this is perhaps for the first time a function has been organized by any minister for a leader whose legacy is solely claimed by the separatist outfits.
The function was held against the backdrop of Sagar reportedly expressing hope that the Hurriyat Chairman would join hands with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to revive the friendship between their fathers for the betterment of the people.
Farooq Abdullah and the slain Mirwaiz had entered into a loose alliance in 1980s which was popularly known as “Double Farooq” accord. However, Mirwaiz’s Awami Action Committee ruled out such a possibility.
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