North Kashmir parts still under curfew

Strike disrupts life in Kulgam areas
SRINAGAR, Mar 10: Normal life continued to remain disrupted in a number of areas in north Kashmir due to declared and undeclared curfew there. A strike was also observed at some places in south Kashmir against the alleged atrocities during the past few days by police and para-military forces.
Reports said that curfew continued to remain in forced for the seventh consecutive day at Baramulla, Seelo, Sangrama-Sopore, Palhallan-Pattan, Lalpora-Lolaab and some other areas of North Kashmir. Police and CRPF conducted series of raids at several places and arrested 35 persons including two panches and five separatist activists.
At Maisuma in Srinagar, a strike was observed in morning and evening hours in protest against the attack on JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik at the Delhi Airport.
Reports said that an undeclared curfew remained imposed in Baramulla town today following yesterday’s violent clashes. Heavy deployment of police and para-military forces was made in the town to enforce the restrictions.
The cops had sealed all the important roads and bridges besides lanes and link roads with barbed wire and armoured vehicles. The people were being asked not to move out and stay indoors. Thousands of people remained hostages in their houses for the seventh consecutive day today. They have been facing enormous problems. However, no violent incident was reported today from the town.
Curfew was imposed at Seelo and Sangrama-Sopore strictly. The roads wore a deserted look with people forced to remain indoors for seventh consecutive day.
At Palhallan-Pattan, some youth tried to hold demonstration, but were chased away by the forces. The stone-pelting occurred in the area. Life was also affected at Watergam Rafiabad.
A protest demonstration was held by women in front of police station Handwara against the arrest of six persons during a raid last night. The cops resorted to lathi-charge on women and the incident created panic in the area and shopkeepers pulled down their shutters. Some women were also injured. However, life returned to normal after some time.
Curfew was imposed at Larpora-Lolaab. 18 persons included two sarpanches were arrested last night. The two arrested sarpanches were identified as Naseer Ahmad Khosa and Abdul Rashid. A strike was also observed at Kunzer-Tenmarg against the atrocities by the forces. Life was also paralyzed at Quimoh and Khudwani in Kulgam district of South Kashmir due to a strike against the arrest of five separatists.

Restrictions in Baramulla,sporadic protests in downtown
Srinagar, Mar 9: Restrictions were imposed in Baramulla town of north Kashmir Sunday while a high level security assessment meet was also held in the town to review the law and order situation. Meanwhile, sporadic protests erupted in some downtown localities of Srinagar Sunday evening. 
Reports said the forces clamped restrictions in Baramulla town since Sunday morning. “They (forces) closed all the bridges and erected barricades in the area to restrict movement of people and transport. The authorities didn’t allow anyone to cross over from old town to the civil lines area,” locals said.
Because of restrictions all the shops in the civil lines area of the town remained closed and thin movement of traffic was witnessed on roads.
In Delina area of the district, all the shops remained closed to protest the arrest of local youth. People demanded immediate release of the detained youth including a cleric Bilal Ahmad. The streets of Baramulla also witnessed heavy deployment of forces.

HIGH LEVEL MEET REVIEWS SECURITY
On Sunday afternoon a high level security review meeting was held in Baramulla town and it was chaired by Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad.
During the meeting, official sources said overall situation in Baramulla was discussed threadbare. The forces were directed to exercise maximum restraint while dealing the situation.
During the meeting killing of Tahir Rasool Sofi and its fallout was discussed. The DGP, official sources said, was briefed about the status of the inquiry going on into the killing of Tahir.
“I was in Baramulla today to review the situation there,” DGP told Greater Kashmir. About the status of the inquiry, Prasad said stable situation will help the investigating team to complete inquiry as soon as possible.
The meeting was attended by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir zone, SM Sahai, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 19 Infantry Division, Major General Vinod Khandaray, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) north Kashmir, Rajesh Kumar and SSP Baramulla Anand Jain.
Meanwhile, in Srinagar, protests erupted in Rajouri Kadal and Safakadal areas Sunday evening.
Reports said groups of the youth in these areas took to streets and held protest demonstrations. They were raising pro-freedom slogans and later they were dispersed by forces.