Adil Lateef
Srinagar, June 30: Life in Old City area of summer capital here was today crippled as authorities imposed restrictions to prevent protests called by separatists while as clashes broke out at several places in Valley after Friday prayers
Hundreds of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Personnel (CRPF) men were deployed in areas falling under five Police Stations of Old City that include Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta, Safakadal, Rainawari and Khanyar. The security personnel had erected barbed wires and placed mobile bunkers at key junctions and bridges to curtail civilian movement.
The authorities for the second consecutive week didn’t allow Friday congregational prayers at Jama Masjid in Nowhatta area. The mosque was sealed from all the sides by security forces and no one was allowed to approach towards it. Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who delivers sermon at Jama Masjid, was placed under house arrest at his Nigeen residence here.
The restrictions in Old City were clamped to prevent outbreak of protests against United States decision of designating Hizbul Mujahideeen chief Syed Salahuddin a global terrorist. Police said that they were also apprehending trouble in the wake of slain militant commander Burhan Wani’s anniversary which falls next week and for that militants have already called for protests and shutdown.
Although there were no restrictions in any other part of Srinagar or Valley but protests and clashes broke out at several places. Leaders and activists of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) staged a peaceful protest at Maisuma in Lal Chowk area against the US decision. The clashes between youth and security forces broke out at Nowhatta and Safakadal areas of downtown this evening after withdrawal of forces.
The clashes also broke out in South Kashmir after Friday prayers. At Reshi Bazar locality of Main Town in Anantnag district, a protest march was taken out after Friday prayers and later youth clashed with security forces during which police resorted to teargas shelling. A house was partially gutted after allegedly being hit by a teargas canister at Reshi Bazar. The clashes also broke out at Bellow, Chatpora and Tral areas of Pulwama district.
Meanwhile, the overall situation in North Kashmir and most parts of central Kashmir districts remained peaceful. However, clashes between youth and security forces broke out at Sopore town of Baramulla district after Friday prayers. There was no report of any injury to anyone.
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Police authorities, meanwhile, have braced up for a crackdown against the separatist leaders and activists ahead of Burhan Wani’s first death anniversary on July 8. A police official said that to avert any trouble, the separatists would be placed under ‘preventive’ detentions. He said the ‘chronic trouble makers’ would also be rounded up to ensure peace in the Valley on Burhan anniversary.
And in Sandoo Shirmal in South Kashmir district of Shopian, a police officer, Arif was injured in stone pelting. Reports said that 44 RR of Army and police cordoned off village Sandoo during which residents pelted stones leading to clashes in which several protesters and police officer SI Arif was injured.
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