Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 8: In the wake of separatists shutdown call tomorrow on the third hanging anniversary of 2001 Parliament attack convict, Mohammad Afzal Guru, police is imposing restrictions on civilian movement in parts of Srinagar tomorrow while Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has issued a three day alert of its camps and units deployed across Kashmir.
Police is imposing curfew like restrictions in parts of Srinagar tomorrow to prevent any protests on the third hanging anniversary of Guru as separatists have called for shutdown on the occasion.
The curbs would be imposed in the areas falling under Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Khanyar, Safakadal and Maisuma police station areas.
Hundreds of police and CRPF personnel are being deployed across the sensitive areas of the city.
In the meantime, police today detained Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik ahead of the hanging anniversaries of Guru and Maqbool Bhat, the co-founder of JKLF and a militant ideologue hanged on February 11, 1984.
The JKLF chairman was detained along with several other party leaders at Abi Guzar here in city centre. Malik was scheduled to lead a rally on Wednesday in demand of return of mortal remains of both Guru and Bhat.
The CRPF has issued a three day alert for all its establishments and units across Kashmir valley in the wake of strike called by separatists.
A CRPF spokesman said: “All the CRPF establishments and units have been put on high alert in view of strike and protest call given by all factions of Hurriyat and all the separatists, on February 9, 10 and 11.”
The alert has been issued as the stone pelting protesters attack CRPF camps and bunkers during strikes called by separatists. “Taking serious note of regular stone pelting on Fridays and Sundays in downtown, the CRPF troops deployed in city and downtown in particular, have been asked to keep close watch on various developments and to maintain an active co-ordination with JKP to counter any propaganda or provocation by separatists”, said the statement.
DIG (OPS) CRPF Srinagar, Sanjeev Dhundia reviewed the security situation in down town and has asked CRPF officers and men to remain vigilant and alert and to take adequate measures to prevent injuries to CRPF men.
The statement said that recently, a grenade was also thrown, amid stone pelting in Saraf Kadal area of downtown, targeting CRPF troops, but luckily grenade didn’t explode. CRPF is effectively dealing various law and order problems, protests and stone pelting effectively, without use of any lethal force, despite severe provocation and grievous injuries to CRPF men.
“All CRPF camps have been alerted and security has been strengthened and troops have been briefed to be ready to deal with any unforeseen law and order problem, without use of lethal weapons”, the statement said.
Atul Karwal IG CRPF Srinagar has also directed to take effective measures, in co-ordination with local police, to tackle any sort of protests or stone pelting with minimum use of force.
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