Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Feb 14: Barring stray incidents of stone pelting, the situation in Kashmir valley remained under control today as authorities relaxed curfew from parts of Kashmir while in sensitive areas it continued for sixth consecutive day today. And in the meantime, fearing trouble, authorities have decided to impose curfew in Srinagar city and major towns of Kashmir valley on the occasion of Friday.
Sources said that authorities have decided to impose curfew in Srinagar and other major towns as part of precautionary measures following a call by the hardline separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, in which he has asked people to march to Srinagar’s Eidgah on Friday in protest against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. He has also demanded that Guru’s body be handed to his family.
A police spokesman said here today that situation across Kashmir valley remained peaceful. He said that a couple of incidents of stone pelting were reported from few places, however, no one was hurt.
The spokesman said that curfew was relaxed in all areas of Budgam, Kupwara and Awantipora district from this morning. He said that in Pulwama and Anantnag curfew was relaxed in all places of the districts except main towns of Pulwama and Anantnag.
However, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Farooq Shah, told Excelsior that curfew was lifted from Anchidora, Chee, Nandpora, Poshwara, Ashajipora, Donipawa, Madni Colony and SK Colony areas of Anantnag town while in FM Gali, Nai Basti and Janglat Mandi areas it was lifted partially. He said that in other parts of the town it was relaxed at 6 p.m. Reports said that there were incidents of stone pelting and tear smoke shelling from Lazibal area of the town in the evening. However, no one was hurt.
The police spokesman said that in Srinagar, the curfew was relaxed in areas falling under Police Stations of Ram Munshi Bagh, Kothibagh, Sadder, Rajbagh, Lalbazar, Shaheed Gung, Nigeen, Zakoora, Panthachowk, Parimpora, Bemina and Nowgam from this morning.
“In Ganderbal curfew was relaxed from all areas except Kangan, since this morning. In Kulgam curfew was relaxed from all places except main Kulgam town and Yaripora from morning”, the police spokesman added.
The spokesman said that in Baramulla curfew was relaxed in entire Baramulla district except Baramulla town, Sopore town and Pattan. “Later in the afternoon, partial relaxation in curfew was given in Baramulla town from 5 pm onwards and in Sopore town from 4 pm onwards”, he added.
The spokesman further said that in Bandipora curfew was relaxed from all areas from 11 am onwards. “In Handwara curfew was relaxed from all places except Langate and Kralgund from 12 am onwards”, he added.
Isolated incidents of stone pelting and tear-smoke shelling were reported from several parts of old city area of Srinagar, Wussan, Barwulla and Kangan areas of Ganderbal district, Bandipora and Rafiabad areas of North Kashmir. However, there were no reports of any injury from anywhere.
In the meantime, Kashmir High Court Bar Association today took a protest march in City Centre Lal Chowk. Scores of lawyers marched from Sadder Court to Lal Chowk and senior police officers rushed to the spot to prevent the situation from going out of control.
The lawyers were demanding that body of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru be returned to his family so that it could be buried as per Muslim rites. The lawyers later dispersed peacefully.
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