Curfew in parts of Srinagar, Shutdown continues across Kashmir for 127th consecutive day
- Life remained paralysed across Kashmir on the day 127
- No Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid for 18th week
- Step taken to foil separatists’ march to Jamia Masjid
- Mirwaiz detained, Geelani’s residence locked from outside
- Over 20 injured in clashes in Valley
- Situation remained peaceful: Police
Authorities Friday foiled Jamia Masjid march by imposing restrictions in old city areas amid deployment of forces even as clashes and protests were reported from various parts of Kashmir after congregational prayers. At least ten youth sustained injuries in the force’s action across Kashmir.
Forces locked the main entrance of house of Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani, from outside, when he tried to defy curbs and proceed towards Jamia Masjid. Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was detained outside his Nigeen residence when he too tried to defy restrictions and proceed towards Jamia.
JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik was shifted to Central Jail Srinagar on Thursday evening after his arrest from Maisuma residence.
Reports said that amid restrictions in areas that include Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Safa Kadal and Rainawari, there was deployment of police and paramilitary forces on the streets to ensure no one heads towards the Jamia masjid.
Residents of Nowhatta said there were no Friday congregational prayers at main masjids located on main roads.
Pertinently, there were no restrictions on offering Friday prayers at the revered shrine of Hazratbal, which houses the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Hundreds of devotees thronged the shrine and offered Friday prayers there. The market at Hazratbal was thronged by hundreds of devotees with police keeping vigil on the entry points.
While the old city areas remained under curfew like restrictions, a complete shutdown was observed on the 127th consecutive day. However, some uptown areas that include Sanantnagar, Pandrethan, Athwajan and Sonwar remained partially open throughout the day, witnesses said. There were no curbs in Lal Chowk and private traffic could be seen plying normally with an increased pedestrian movement as well. Street vendors had set up their stalls at various places. Reports said that peaceful protest rallies were held in Batamaloo and Tengpora areas, reports said. Late evening reports said that clashes broke out at Rajouri Kadal, Nowhatta, Kawdara, Nawa Kadal and Safa Kadal areas soon after the withdrawal of forces.
Reports said that intense clashes were reported on Wanabal-Rangreth road where forces resorted to heavy tear gas shelling to disperse the youth.
South Kashmir
Amid restrictions pro-freedom demonstrations rocked various South Kashmir areas after Friday prayers. Reports said a massive pro-freedom rally was held in Badroo-Mahanad village of Bijbehara after Friday prayers. “The rally was lead by Tehreek-I-Hurriyat (Teh) District President Islamabad Mir Hafizullah,” reports said. They said that the protesters were shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Addressing the rally, Mir said that people who are making us to believe that the present uprising has gone waste are only speaking the language of the oppressor. “The ongoing agitation has been a tremendous success and a major boost to our freedom struggle,”Mir said. Teh- Tehsil Presidents for Pahalgam and Anantnag- Riyaz Ahmad and Aashiq Hussain also addressed the rally. Another major pro-freedom rally was held in Trenz Shopian. “The pro-freedom rally was lead by Teh district president Shopian Muhamad Yousuf Falahi,” reports said. They said other activists of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) also participated in the rally.
In Pulwama – district pro-freedom rallies were taken out in Gusoo and Rohmoo villages after Friday prayers. Similar pro-freedom rallies were held in Boham, Bochroo, Mohamdpora, Wokai (OK), Paniwa, Srandoo, Ktrasoo , Qaimoh and Khudwani villages of Kulgam as well as main town.
At least ten youth were arrested by police during overnight raids in twin villages of Tahab and Niara during overnight raids. “To protest the arrests, people in Tahab took to streets and held demonstrations. Intense clashes were also witnessed in the area,” reports said. They said that the protesters also clashed with forces that resorted to intense tear shelling. Meanwhile, reports said that a protest demonstration was staged in Arwani, Bijbehara in Anantnag district. Pertinently, reports said that there were no Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid Shopian for the 18th straight week.
North Kashmir
Amid complete shutdown in Baramulla district, reports of clashes between youth and police were reported from north Kashmir’s Palhallan area on Friday afternoon. According to reports, clashes broke out in Palhallan area after a group of youths soon after Friday prayers, held a pro-freedom protest demonstration. The protesting youths while trying to march towards the national highway, were stopped by the police triggering clashes in the area. Police lobbed scores of teargas shells at the protesting youths and clashes continued for several hours. Earlier, a local Tehrik-e-Hurriyat leader, Abdul Ghani of Sopore, who is evading his arrest since the onset of present uprising, addressed a huge gathering in the Jamia Masjid Palhallan. Meanwhile, minor clashes between a group of youths and police were also reported at Khanpora bridge, in Baramulla town on Friday afternoon. Reports from Sopore said that dozens of youth staged protests after Friday prayers. The youth were shouting slogans in favor of Islam, and freedom. The youth later resorted to intense stone-pelting on forces in the area who retaliated by lobbing tear smoke canisters. Reports from north Kashmir’s Bandipora district said that mild clashes erupted in Gulshan Chowk and Plan areas after Friday congregation prayers. Witnesses said that youths from Plan and Nibripora clashed with government forces in Plan area after offering congregational Friday prayers at Jamia masjid. They said that youth hurled stones and bricks at security forces who responded by firing teargas and sound shells to disperse the protesters. Meanwhile, a pro-freedom rally was foiled by police in Aloosa village, triggering brief clashes between government forces and youths. Witnesses said that police foiled a proposed pro-freedom rally which was scheduled to be carried out after Friday congregational prayers.
They said that youth hurled stones at police who in response fired teargas and sound shells to disperse the protesting youth, triggering brief clashes. Witnesses said that three youths were also picked up by police during clashes in Aloosa village. Meanwhile, peaceful pro-freedom rally was carried out in Ajas after Friday prayers from Jamia masjid Ajas to main chowk Ajas amid pro-freedom slogans. Similar rally was carried out in Ganastan village of Sumbal tehsil. The rallies, however, culminated peacefully. Reports of clashes were also received from Papchan area of Bandipora.
Central Kashmir
Massive clashes rocked Beerwah town in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, reports said. Hundreds of youth tried to march towards martyr’s graveyard where they clashed with forces near cooperative bank, reports said. Forces fired dozens of pepper and tear smoke shells to quell the protesting youth. Meanwhile, residents alleged that forces detained around dozen youth from the town. Clashes were going on till late evening the area.
In Ganderbal district heavy security arrangements were made in all the major towns including Ganderbal to thwart any protests in the area in view of the Friday prayers. Meanwhile, authorities had allowed the Friday prayers in Beehama Jamia Masjid after 17 weeks. Reports said that though authorities had allowed Friday prayers in Beehama masjid, however people didn’t turn up to offer prayers in the masjid and majority of people preferred to offer prayers in other local mosques. ‘There were no restrictions in place and people were informed about this, adding that since last Friday the Friday prayers were allowed in Beehama masjid,” a senior police official informed Kashmir Post. Reports said that a mild incident of stone pelting was reported on Srinagar-Leh highway at Thune in Kangan area. Meanwhile, seven youth were shifted to central jail Srinagar from police station Kangan for judicial remand.
Police version
According to a police statement, except for a few minor stone pelting incidents in Pulwama, Shopian, and overall situation across the valley remained peaceful and under control. As a precautionary measure restrictions were imposed in some areas of Srinagar city. “During the day normal life was observed generally in the most parts of valley. Vehicles both Public and private were seen plying on city roads as well as in main towns and on the inter-district roads. The shops/vendors in parts of Srinagar city and other towns were also seen doing their business,” the statement said. “Necessary security deployment was made in some vulnerable points in Srinagar and also in main towns of the valley to prevent any possible untoward incident disturbing normal life and smooth flow of traffic.”