Majority of Downtown areas in Srinagar observed a complete shutdown on Sunday against the National Investigation Agency’s summon to the Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. The police had also imposed stringent curbs in Downtown areas to thwart any protests.
A witness said that the police and central reserve police force(CRPF) personnel, wearing riot-gear, were deployed in Gojwara, Nowhatta,RajouriKadal, Kawdara, NawaKadal, Rainawari, MahrajGunj and other adjoiningareas.
“Barbed wire was placed on roads to ensure that no protestrally takes place against NIA summon to Mirwaiz,” said Lateef Ahmed, a localresident.
The call for shutdown, given by Shahr-e-Khass coordinationcommittee (SKCC), evoked a complete response as all shops and businessestablishments remained closed. Mild clashes between youth and forces were alsowitnessed in Naidkadal and NawaKadal.
On Saturday, Mirwaiz received a summon from the NIA askinghim to produce himself before the agency’s court in New Delhi on Monday inconnection with a case filed into the alleged militancy funding in Kashmir.
A source said the Hurriyat (M) has already starteddeliberating over the NIA notice and is weighing its options on how to respondto it. A source said the final decisionon whether Mirwaiz would fly to Delhi or not will be announced on Monday.
“A thorough discussion took place at the Nigeen residence ofMirwaiz, where senior party leaders were present. The decision on whetherMirwaiz would fly to Delhi has been put on hold until Monday,” the sourcesaid. Pertinently, the Hurriyat (M)chairman was placed under house arrest Saturday, while senior leaders of theorganisation were kept outside his Nigeen residence and later allowed to meetMirwaiz after an hour.