Srinagar, May 21: The government Monday foiled the ‘Eidgah Chalo’ program of Hurriyat Conference (M) to commemorate the death anniversaries of Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone by imposing severe restrictions in old Srinagar. A shutdown was observed elsewhere on the call of the amalgam.
The authorities imposed severe restrictions in old Srinagar and deployed heavy contingents of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to thwart any march or protest demonstration. However the day passed off peacefully.
Shops, business establishments, schools remained closed; banks and government offices witnessed thin attendance while public transport was off the roads in most parts of the valley.
A senior police official in Srinagar said that Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and some other leaders of the conglomerate were placed under house arrest. He said restrictions were imposed in Safa Kadal, MR Gunj, Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, Nigeen, Soura, Lal Bazar and Kralkhud police station areas ‘to maintain law and order.’
In old Srinagar, police and CRPF were deployed in every nook and corner to restrict the movement of people. The police and CRPF laid razor wires and erected barricades at road junctions. Armored vehicles were also seen at some road junctions in old Srinagar.
The situation in old Srinagar turned panicky Monday morning after a heavy contingent of police and CRPF arrested at least 10 youth near Islamia School Rajouri Kadal. The residents said that police arrested the youth without any provocation.
However, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Syed Aashiq Hussain Bukhari told Greater Kashmir that the youth were arrested when they pelted stones on police and CRPF. “We will look into their involvement and they might be released in the evening. They were disrupting peace,” the SSP said. He added that situation in Srinagar remained peaceful by and large.
Life remained crippled in Baramulla, Kupwara, Sopore, Handwara and Bandipora towns of north Kashmir due to the strike. But thin public transport plied on inter-district roads in north Kashmir.
Islamabad (Anantnag) town of south Kashmir wore a deserted look. Shops, schools and business institutions remained closed. Thin traffic was witnessed on roads. Strike was also observed in Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian districts of south Kashmir.
A police spokesman here confirmed that restrictions were placed in some old Srinagar areas ‘to prevent attempts to breach peace by the people.’
“In view of the Sunday’s clashes in Hurriyat office at Rajbagh there was an apprehension that the clashes could have spilled onto the streets during today’s proposed march, as such this morning a team of district officers led by District Magistrate (DM) went to meet Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for facilitation of the proposed march and rally at Eidgah. However, Umar Farooq declined to meet the team,” a police spokesman said.
Quoting the DM, the spokesman said, “This situation left us with no option but to impose restrictions in some old Srinagar areas to avoid any breach of peace.”

Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 May 2012 00:00:00 IST