Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 2: Curfew like restrictions were imposed in parts of Srinagar while rest of Kashmir valley observed shutdown today against Kounsarnaag yatra in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Shops and other business establishments in all the towns and markets of the region remained closed while public transport remained off the roads.
A thin movement of private vehicles and few public transport minibuses was observed in Lal Chowk and around Dal lake and other parts of the Valley.
Government offices witnessed a thin attendance as employees couldn’t reach their offices in the absence of public transport.
The shutdown was called by Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani to protest the Government move to start pilgrimage to Kounsarnaag.
The pilgrimage to the small fresh water lake has faced opposition from Hurriyat groups, civil society and various environmentalists, saying that human interference would destroy the ecology of the place and around the lake which is a source of many fresh water streams in South Kashmir including Aharbal waterfall and two rivulets, Veshaw and Toungri.
Authorities in Srinagar had deployed heavy security and imposed curfew-like situation in volatile parts of the Old city to thwart any protests.
Police raised barricades on the main junction of the roads leading to the Old City at Khanyar, Munawarabad, Nigeen and other areas to curb the public movement into the city.
Authorities imposed restrictions in Khanyar, Nowhatta, Rainawari, M.R. Gunj and Safa Kadal areas of the Old City. Police and CRPF was deployed in large numbers in Srinagar City, Anantnag, Baramulla, Sopore and other towns to foil any protests.
Some stray stone pelting incidents occurred in various parts of the valley. In Narbal, youth assembled on the Srinagar-Gulmarg highway and pelted stones on security forces.
Senior separatist leaders have either been detained or placed under house detention to prevent them from leading protests. Yasin Malik was taken into preventive custody on Thursday while other leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Geelani and Shabir Shah have been placed under house arrest.
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