Separatists held, forces deployed in Srinagar
SRINAGAR: Strict curfew coupled with heavy deployment of security forces foiled the separatist bid to lead a ‘pro-freedom’ march to Lal Chowk on Monday.
For the second day, the police cracked down on separatists. Police raided the residence of Jamiat Aahl-e-Hadees president Moulana Showkat Shah early in the morning and took him into custody. Separatist leader Javid Ahmad Mir was arrested on Sunday night.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, former chairman Moulana Abbaas Ansari and other executive committee members were put under house arrest. Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani continues to be admitted at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences.
More than 30,000 police and CRPF men were deployed in Srinagar to prevent the separatist march to Lal Chowk, which was turned into fortress.
Some people defied the curfew in Baramulla and tried to lead a procession but were stopped by the police. “There were later persuaded to disperse which they agreed,” Kashmir range IGP Dr B Srinivas said.
At Maisuma, Nowhatta, Bemina and other places, people assembled but could not hit the road owing to strong police presence. The protesters contented themselves by raising slogans against the government.
Curfew remained clamped in all the 10 districts of the Valley for the second day on Monday. Most newspapers failed to hit the stands as the authorities did not issue sufficient curfew passes to reporters and technical staff. Local cable channels did not air their primetime news bulletin on Sunday as they too were not issued enough curfew passes.
The government has already stopped SEN TV’s transmission for alleged violation of provisions of the Cable TV Network (Regulation) Act, 1995.
“Kashmiris are facing severe shortage of supplies and essentials due to the indefinite curfew. India should immediately lift the curfew and release all leaders,” said Moulana Ansari, former chairman of the Hurriyat Conference.
District magistrate Srinagar Mehraj Kakroo said they would assess the situation in the evening and decide whether or not to relax the curfew on Tuesday.
