Srinagar, June 29: The government on Friday foiled the march to Khanyar called by Grand Mufti Bashir-u-din by putting him under house arrest and continued with curfew in old Srinagar for fourth consecutive day. Rest of the Valley observed a complete shutdown for fifth consecutive day to mourn the gutting of Dastgeer Sahab (RA) shrine. Friday’s shutdown transcended Valley boundaries as Drass and Banihal also remained shut.
 To thwart any protest demonstrations, the authorities imposed restrictions in other parts of Srinagar. Heavy contingents of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were also deployed in the major towns of the Valley.
 Reports of clashes were received from some areas including Srinagar, a woman was injured in the incidents. However, officials said that except some stray incidents of stone throwing the day passed off peacefully.
 Shops, business establishments, schools and offices remained closed across the valley while transport was off the roads.
 In the morning police and CRPF men arrived at the residence of Grand Mufti and put him and his deputy Mufti Nasir-ul Islam under house arrest. Entire separatist leadership was also put under house arrest that included Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik and Nayeem Ahmad Khan.
 The Grand Mufti had called for a march to the shrine which was gutted on Monday.
 “Separatists have been placed under house arrest as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order,” a senior police officer told Greater Kashmir.
 Sources said that groups of youth in Soura tried to carry out a protest demonstration. The youth pelted stones and rocks on police and CRPF and later dispersed.
 In old Srinagar, police and CRPF laid razor wire and erected barricades at roads and junctions to stop the movement of people and vehicular traffic as the areas under the jurisdiction of police stations Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj, Safakadal and Kralkhud remained under curfew for fourth day.
 The police and CRPF in old Srinagar were seen forcing people to remain indoors and patrolling the deserted streets to foil any attempt to assemble for the march.
 Heavy deployment of forces was made in other Srinagar areas and other major towns of the Valley.
 Additional policemen and CRPF personnel were deployed in the downtown and other vulnerable areas of Srinagar like Maisuma to thwart any protests. All the routes to Lal Chowk were sealed since Friday morning.
 Groups of youths took to streets in the morning and pelting stones at police and CRPF in Barzulla, Solina, Bemina, Batamaloo and Qamarwari areas of Srinagar.
 During the clashes, police said the wife of a senior official of the Census Department was injured Friday afternoon when a group of youths pelted stones at their car in Bemina here.
 Police said that Deputy Registrar in Census Department, R C Sethi, and his wife were returning from tourist resort Gulmarg when their official vehicle was targeted by youths at Bemina in the afternoon. “Sethi’s wife was hit by a stone on the head and required 11 stitches,” the police said adding that the vehicle was also damaged in the incident. Police said that they have launched hunt to nab the youth involved into the incident.
 Police foiled the attempt of Peoples Political Party (PPP) Chairman Er. Hilal Ahmed War to take out a march from Maisuma to Khanyar. “Police resorted to heavy baton charge and teargas shelling to disperse PPP activists,” a spokesman of the party said.
 Ganderbal and Budgam districts also observed a shutdown to mourn the gutting of the shrine. Unconfirmed reports said that groups of youth pelted stones on police and CRPF in Ganderbal.
 All the major towns in north Kashmir- Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara, Handwara and Bandipora- observed a complete shutdown to mourn the gutting of the shrine. Shops and business establishments in these districts remained shut and traffic was off the roads. However, some private vehicles were seen plying on some routes.
 Work in government offices, banks and other public undertakings was also affected due to strike and educational institutions wore a deserted look.
 Police and CRPF personnel were deployed on the roads in north Kashmir towns to foil any attempt of protests.
 Mufti Bashir-u-din has condemned the government for not allowing the Khanyar march.
 “In view of the call given by Mufti Sahab for Khanyar chalo we have been placed under house arrest by the authorities though a non-political and peaceful march was planned towards Khanyar to exhibit complete unity in society. Still the government did not allow us,” Grand Mufti’s son Nasir-ul-Islam said in a statement.
 The Grand Mufti has thanked the people ‘including Hurriyat and other pro-struggle leaders’ for observing complete shutdown. Taking a dig at Chief Minister, Mufti Nasir stated: “Allah is in our hearts and deeds, not only in our tweets.”

KHALID GUL ADDS FROM SOUTH KASHMIR:
 A complete shutdown was observed in Islamabad, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian districts. In Islamabad town police and paramilitary forces wearing riot gears were deployed in strength in old town areas as well as K.P Road to thwart any attempts of protests.
 Though the day went off peacefully, however clashes erupted later in the evening when the deployment was reduced. Sporadic clashes were also witnessed in Pulwama and Shopian towns after the Friday prayers.
 In Islamabad town, police have launched a crackdown on youngsters allegedly involved in stone-pelting incidents that erupted following the gutting of Dastgeer Sahab (RA) shrine and have rounded up many. About a dozen youth, rounded up by the police after the clashes on the death anniversary of pro-freedom leader Dr. Qazi Nisar on July 19, continue be under detention.
 A youth was picked up by police Friday afternoon in Khanpora area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district when he was walking home with his friends after offering Friday prayers, eyewitnesses said.
 Eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir that Rafiq Ahmad Malla son of Ghulam Muhammad Malla of Khanpora, a salesman, was walking home along with his friends in Khanpora when a police jeep picked him up.
 According to reports army and police barged into houses at Drangbal Baramulla and resorted to beating of youth. “The army smashed the windowpanes and beat the youth on the roads,” locals alleged.
 Protests erupted in the area following the incident.
 When contacted, SSP Baramulla Anand Jain dropped the phone on hearing the telephone call was from Greater Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST