Front Page

Curfew-like situation prevails in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Strict curfew-like restrictions remained in force for the second day in most parts of the Kashmir valley after separatist sponsored Co-ordination Committee rescheduled its proposed march to the Jamia Masjid to Friday.

Shops, educational institutions, banks and other business establishments remained closed, while there was no or thin attendance in government offices.

Streets wore a deserted look with ubiquitous police and paramilitary forces dotting them.

Chairman of the moderate faction of All Parties Hurriyat Conference and Co-Chairman of Coordination Committee Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that for the first time even the Muazzin was not able to call for prayers in the grand mosque.

“India is now using force to stop people even from offering prayers,” Mr. Mirwaiz said.

Friday prayers have not been held at the grand mosque thrice after the Amarnath land row, which resulted in massive protest demonstrations throughout Kashmir valley.

Mr. Mirwaiz alleged that the government after indulging in “gross human rights violations” in the region was now stopping people from performing religious obligations.

The separatists had earlier called for the march to the grand mosque in the volatile Nowhatta area on Thursday, a move halted by authorities through strict enforcement of section 144 of the criminal procedure code, under which assembly of four or more people are banned.

The Mirwaiz continued to remain under house arrest in his uptown Nigeen residence.

The Mirwaiz said that he was not being allowed to move out of his house He said he could not offer Friday prayers in the mosque.

About a dozen other separatist leaders, including former Hurriyat chairman Moulana Abbas Ansari, Bilal Gani Lone, Aga Syed Hussan Al- Mousvi, Kashmir Bar Association president Mian Abdul Qayoum also remained under house arrest for the second consecutive day.

About 100 first and second rung separatist leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Muhammad Yaseen Malik, Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah and Jamait-ul-Ahalhadees chief Moulana Showkat Shah have been arrested by the police and the CRPF during the past two months. Majority of them were later detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA).

Meanwhile, reports of clashes between protesting youth and police were received from south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and Nawab Bazaar area of Srinagar city.

A police spokesman said three persons including a policeman were injured in Anantnag when the protesting youth tried to attack a police vehicle and a local politician.

According to reports, the situation in Bandipora, Kulgam and Shopian districts was peaceful and there was some movement of vehicles while some shops also remained open.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu