Curfew clamped in Batmaloo, Sopore

Curfew was today clamped in Batmaloo area of Srinagar and Sopore town while prohibitory orders remained in force in rest of the Kashmir Valley ahead of a march planned by separatists to the UN Military Observers Group Office for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) here.

Curfew was imposed in Batmaloo in central Srinagar and Sopore in North Kashmir as a precautionary measure while restrictions under section 144 CrPC are being strictly enforced in rest of the Valley, police said.

They said the step was taken ahead of a call given by moderate Hurriyat Conference headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq to take out a procession to the office of UNMOGIP at Sonawar near here.

Police and paramilitary troops were patrolling the deserted streets to maintain law and order in the entire Valley.

Mirwaiz, who was placed under house arrest on Saturday when he tried to lead a protest demonstration in the old city, had given a call for a march to UNMOGIP from the martyrs graveyard at Naqashband Sahib to hand over a memorandum to UN representatives seeking to implement the resolutions passed by the UN for resolving the Kashmir issue.

Besides Mirwaiz, senior executive member of Hurriyat Aga Syed Hassan Alsafvi Almosvi has been placed under house arrest. Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani is already under detention.

The Geelani led faction had also planned a rally from martyrs graveyard to Eidgah to pay homage to 22 people who died on July 13, 1931 during the Dogra rule.