Ahead of Shutdown, Govt Imposes Restrictions
Protests In Pulwama, Magam
Srinagar, Feb 19: In view of the strike call given by Hurriyat Conference (G), the Government has decided to impose restrictions in sensitive areas across the Kashmir valley on Wednesday, while Section 144 CrPC was imposed in Srinagar district Tuesday evening.
Geelani has appealed people to observe civil curfew on Wednesday and Thursday while JKLF has called for shutdown on Friday to protest the hanging of Muhammad Afzal Guru. Speaking to Greater Kashmir, Director General of Police Ashok Prasad said that police would ‘take every measure’ to ensure peace.
“There will be restrictions in sensitive areas of the valley,” Prasad said adding that places like Srinagar’s downtown had witnessed trouble in the recent past.
DGP said that if the need arises, curfew can be clamped. “We will assess situation in the morning and in case trouble erupts somewhere, curfew will be clamped. Every measure has been taken so that peace prevails,” Prasad said adding there would be additional deployment of police for maintaining peace.
In Srinagar, authorities imposed Section 144 CrPC in entire district Tuesday evening. “In view of law and order situation and to avoid breach of peace and tranquility besides damage to life and property, restrictions under Section 144 CrPC in entire district Srinagar have been imposed with immediate effect till further orders,” an official handout said Tuesday evening. Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar has been directed to implement the order in letter and spirit.
Reports said that police and paramilitary forces were deployed in all major towns of the valley Tuesday evening. In old Srinagar, police and CRPF personnel were witnessing ferrying razor wire from one place to another.
PROTESTS IN SHOPIAN:
Fresh protests erupted in Shopian late Monday evening against the hanging of Afzal Guru. The people carried out a peaceful demonstration and marched through the main town. Reports reaching here said that minor incidents of stone pelting occurred in the main town. Groups of youth pelted stones on Deputy Commissioner’s Office and forces burst tear smoke shells to disperse the protestors, reports said.
Reports said people also staged protests at various places in Shopian including Tak Mohalla, Gagran and Bonabazar and were demanding the body of Afzal.
PROTESTS IN PULWAMA:
Reports said that groups of youth took to streets in Muran Chowk and pelted stones on police Tuesday evening. They were raising pro-Afzal slogans. However they were dispersed after police cane charged them.
PROTESTS IN MAGAM:
Clashes broke out in Chichilora areas of Magam in district Budgam Tuesday evening. Reports said that protests erupted after a police party picked up a youth identified as Muzaffar Ahmad of Chichilora from a shop in Magam.
As soon as news of arrest broke out, people in hundreds took to streets and held strong protest demonstrations.
Reports said that police burst tear smoke shells and cane-charged the protestors. The residents of the area alleged that police and paramilitary forces barged into the residential houses. They damaged the windowpanes of several residential houses including the houses of Sanaullah Bhat, Hamidullah Bhat, Abdul Khaliq Dar, Abdul Karim Dar and Muhammad Yousuf Ganai.
The pitched battles in the area were going on when this report was being filed.
