Srinagar, July 13: Authorities imposed curfew and restrictions across the summer capital to stave off protests and thwart rallies called by separatist groups on the martyrs’ day on Tuesday.
Police and CRPF personnel, deployed in strength, sealed and secured the martyrs’ graveyard at Naqshband Sahab in downtown for the visit of various mainstream leaders who paid floral tributes to the martyrs of July 13, 1931. The roads and lanes leading to the venue remained blocked by armoured vehicles, iron barricades and razor wire.
The restrictions were tough in Khanyar, Nowhatta, Khawaja Bazar, Rainawari, Gojwara, Rajouri Kadal and other neighbouring localities.
Police and CPRF men didn’t allow any civilian movement in these localities. Pertinently, police has cracked down on youth and arrested scores for taking part in “pro-freedom protests and stone-pelting.”
Officials, however, said restrictions and prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC were in place in the city to stave off protests. The Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani had asked people to visit the martyrs’ graveyard for prayer meeting and later march towards Iddgah while Mirwaiz Umar Farooq led Hurriyat had asked people to march towards the United Nations office at Sonawar after paying tributes at martyrs’ graveyard.
Residents of uptown Batamaloo and Barzalla localities said that the police made announcements early in the morning over loudspeakers about the imposition of curfew in the area. Curfew-like restrictions were also imposed in several other uptown areas of the city. Protests erupted in uptown Galwanpora, Hyderpora locality during the day. Police and CRPF men swung into action and quelled the protesters by baton charging them and firing teargas shells.
Several separatist leaders of Hurriyat (M), including its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abbas Ansari, Aga Syed Al Mouswi, Shahid-ul-Islam, and Mukhtar Ahmad were kept under house arrest at their respective residences.
In central Kashmir’s Budgam district, an undeclared curfew was imposed with heavy deployment of police and paramilitary troopers across road.

NORTH KASHMIR
In Bandipora district, hundreds of people poured out onto the streets and staged protests to mark the martyr’s day at several places. Protestors tried to march towards Srinagar. But huge contingents of CRPF and policemen prevented them to move ahead.
Chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, protestors demanded action against the police and CRPF men involved in the recent killings of youth.
The protesters staged at main town Bandipora, Hajin, Naidkhai, Aloosa, Ashtangoo and Saderkoot.
No untoward incident was reported in the district.
In Varmul, Sopur, Handwara, Kupwara, and Ganderbal, a complete shutdown was observed. Restrictions were imposed in most of the towns to foil any attempts of taking out rallies and protests.

SOUTH KASHMIR
Amid curfew like restrictions, complete shutdown was observed in the south Kashmir towns of Islamabad, Kulgam, Pulwama, Kakapora, Shopian, Rajpora, Pampore, Tral and Awantipora.
Authorities had deployed police and CRPF men in strength in the major commercial hubs of Pulwama and Shopian to foil protests and Iddgah Chalo call given by APHC.
Shops and business establishments remained closed while commercial traffic was also off the roads.
(With inputs from Tariq Mir and Ayub Javaid.)

Lastupdate on : Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST