Date:07/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/07/stories/2008110761151800.htm

National

Separatists’ march thwarted in Kashmir

Shujaat Bukhari

Photo: Nissar Ahmad

KEEPING VIGIL: A soldier on guard outside the Jamia mosque in downtown in Srinagar on Thursday. —

SRINAGAR: There was an undeclared curfew in Srinagar and other major parts of Kashmir on Thursday to prevent separatists from marching to the Jamia Masjid to commemorate the killing of Muslims in the Jammu region on this day in 1947.

A large number of police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel were deployed in the city and other areas from early morning and no civilian movement was allowed. Streets wore a deserted look throughout the day.

The restrictions were more stringent in Nowhatta, Rajouri Kadal and Hawal close to the Jamia Masjid area.

“We are not allowed to even open a window. There is a large deployment of paramilitary forces and that too without any announcement,” said Mehboob Peerzada, a student from Nowhatta.

The authorities put Hurriyat leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Moulana Abbas Ansari, Agha Syed Hassan, Bilal Gani Lone and Javed Ahmad Mir under house arrest. Strong police contingents were deployed outside their houses.

However, police denied that curfew was imposed in Kashmir.

“We strictly enforced Section 144 to prevent loss of life and damage to property in the event of an unlawful activity which these people were planning,” said a senior police official.

NC list

PTI reports:

National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah will contest the coming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections from Hazratbal.

The party’s parliamentary board, under the chairmanship of President Omar Abdullah, released the second list of andidates on Thursday.