65 arrested; curfew, shutdown paralyse life

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 9: Police arrested 65 persons from different parts of Kashmir for fomenting trouble even as curfew like restrictions were imposed in parts of Srinagar with shutdown in rest of the Valley paralyzing life for 93rd consecutive day today.
Shops, business establishments remained closed today while public transport was off the roads. However, traffic with private cars was plying in Civil Lines area of Srinagar. The train services between Banihal and Baramulla and pre-paid mobile services and mobile internet remained suspended since July.
Curfew like restrictions remained in place in parts of Srinagar to maintain law and order in these areas. The areas, where there was curfew like restrictions include areas falling Nowhatta, Maharaj Gunj, Rainawari, Safa Kadal and Khanyar police stations.
Security forces were heavily deployed in these areas to foil any protests. They erected barricades and closed main roads with concertina wire to prevent movement of people and vehicles.
Clashes were reported from Saidapora area of Eidgah in Srinagar where a boy was killed by pellet firing on Friday evening. Hundreds of people, mostly youth, took to streets since the morning leading to ding-dong battles in the locality. Security forces fired tear gas to disperse the protesters who pelted stones at them. These clashes were going on till evening.
In Narbal area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, security forces used force against women who were protesting against the arrest of a youth on charges of stone pelting.
These women staged protest against the arrest of Arif Ahmad Rather who was arrested early morning today. The women were cane-charged and security forces and tear, gas was also fired at them.
A police spokesman said here today that the situation across Kashmir remained by and large peaceful although a couple of stone pelting incidents were reported.
“There was a huge rush of vendors in the markets as well as lanes. People were seen doing normal shopping from the vendors as well as shops in some markets. The increased volume of the vehicles was seen in the towns as well as on the roads connecting different towns and villages of the Kashmir valley”, the statement said.
Meanwhile, in its sustained drive against the miscreants across the Kashmir valley, 65 persons who were found involved in different offences of creating public disorder and disruption of normal activities have been arrested by police during past 24 hours.