Srinagar, July 21: Irked at the frequent undeclared curfews, which the authorities term as “restrictions”, the Shahr-e-Khaas residents are up in arms against the government saying that “this terminology is nothing but insult to the injury of the local populace.”
 The residents of densely populated areas like Nowhatta, Nallah-e-Mar, Eidgah, Nawa Kadal, Safa Kadal and Jamalatta, said the siege of the old City for most part of around a month has made their lives miserable.
 They said the term “restrictions” was creating more of a chaos for them because “the siege remains the same but only the term keeps changing.”
 On learning about the news reports that no curfew but only restrictions were in place, the complainants said, they many a time moved out of their homes only to be allegedly thrashed by the men in uniform outside.
 “On reading newspapers and going through the radio news that was no curfew in the old City, I moved out of my house for some important work. But concertina wires sealed the lane leading to our house,” said Ghulam Muhammad(name changed) a local of Seki Dafar locality.
 Muhammad said he requested the cops to let him go out.
 “But after letting cross the barricade, the policemen asked me to get permission from CRPF men standing nearby. But the moment I reached them they started beating me and finally I had no options but to rush back to my house,” he added.
 “This undeclared curfew is a big problem for us. On one hand the outside world believes that we are free but the fact remains that we continue to be under strict curfew, which goes unreported,” said an elderly academician living in Eidgah locality.
 Residents of Rajauri Kadal termed restrictions as “insult to injury”.
 “On one had the government is resorting to all possible atrocities as we don’t have access even to essential commodities, and on the other, the situation is projected as something rosy in the garb the term restrictions,” alleged a group youth.
 Residents of Narwara said the troopers don’t even allow the ailing to be taken to hospital.
 “A family tried to persuade CRPF men to allow a ailing man who had a SKIMS prescription with a follow-up date for today, to allow them proceed to the hospital, but the troopers chased them away,” the locals alleged.
 A Shahr-e-Khaas man working with Power Development Department accused the CRPF of even not entertaining the curfew passes.
 “Everyday they ask me to get a new pass, which should be valid for the day. How is it possible to get a fresh pass everyday when the same isn’t renewed by the authorities on daily basis,” argued the official requesting not to be named.
 The Eidgah residents said: “In the garb of restrictions, the curfew has been so strict that we couldn’t get vegetables even though the nearby localities are famous for the cultivation.”
 Police says they disallow the movement vegetable vendors there pleading that after selling the lot they resort to stone pelting.
 “These vendors are very clever. We have reports that they sell their lot within an hour in morning and then spent rest of the day in stone pelting. We can’t allow such miscreants to move out,” the police official said.
  He said the restrictions were often in place to avoid any law and order situation.
 “But the same cannot be termed as curfew because no formal orders are issued… It’s just a security measure to ensure safeguard of life and property,” he added.
“These vendors are very clever. We have reports that they sell their lot within an hour in morning and then spent rest of the day in stone pelting. We can’t allow such miscreants to move out”
“This undeclared curfew is a big problem for us. On one hand the outside world believes that we are free but the fact remains that we continue to be under strict curfew, which goes unreported… This is insult to injury”

Lastupdate on : Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST