Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 22: The normal life in Kashmir remained disrupted today following imposition of curfew like restrictions in parts of Srinagar and major towns of Kashmir valley while around a dozen persons were injured in clashes after protests at few places turned violent.
Authorities today imposed curfew like restrictions in parts of Srinagar in the police Station areas of Rainawari, Khanyar Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, S.R. Gunj, Zadibal, Soura, Maisuma, Kralkhud, Shaheed Gunj and Batmaloo of district Srinagar and major towns of Kashmir valley.
The police and para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was deployed heavily in the areas where restrictions were imposed and barricades were erected and main roads were sealed with concertina razor wire. People in the parts of Srinagar city and major towns were asked to remain indoors since morning as the authorities had apprehensions of trouble.
The restrictions were imposed to prevent any protests and violence during the Friday congregations. This is for the second time since Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was hanged early this month that Friday prayers were not offered in majority of the main Masjids in Srinagar city and other major towns of Kashmir valley. However, large number of people in the curfew bound areas offered prayers in local Masjids in interior lanes and by-lanes.
The life in the areas where there was no curfew remained affected as shops in these areas were mostly closed and traffic was off the roads.
The curfew like restrictions were imposed as the authorities feared violence after hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani had called for protests after Friday prayers in support of the demand for handing over the body of Afzal Guru to his family.
A police spokesman said here that situation remained peaceful across the Valley, barring a couple of stone pelting incidents at Qaimoh in district Kulgam and Trehgam in the North Kashmir district of Kupwara.
“Police exercised maximum restraint while dealing with the law and order situations. A woman, Rafeeqa of Qaimoh was injured at Qaimoh in district Kulgam. She has been shifted to the hospital for treatment”, the spokesman said.
However, clashes and protests have been reported from various parts Kulgam, Bandipora and Kupwara districts during which around one dozen persons were injured.
Reports reaching here from Kulgam district in South Kashmir said that hundreds of people came out in protest on the main road in village Redwani after Friday prayers and they were joined by the people from adjacent villages. They were stopped by the Police and CRPF near SOG camp at Redwani leading to clashes between police and protesters.
Reports said that Police fired tear smoke shells and charged batons on the protesters during which six persons were injured. Two of the injured Rafeeqa and Mohammad Maqbool were shifted to Srinagar for treatment.
Reports of clashes between protesters and police have come from Trehgam area of Kupwara. Two persons were injured when police charged batons and fired tears smoke shells to disperse the protesters in the area. Reports of protests have also come from Hajin in Bandipora, Chotipora in Handwara in district Kupwara and Nagam area of Budgam.
Meanwhile, the hardline Hurriyat Conference faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani who had called for protests and strikes since Guru hanging early this month has said that there will be no strike for next three days.
Huriyat (G) has said: “We will try to take the other separatist leaders and groups on board before announcing any further programme after February 25, and till then people should return to their work.”
The Hurriyat (G) has, however, asked people to press for the return of body of Afzal Guru that has been buried in Tihar Jail after his hanging early this month.
In the meantime, a spokesman of the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, has termed the restrictions on movement of its chairman, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, as direct interference in the religious matters of people of State. The spokesman strongly condemned the restrictions imposed on the Valley’s head priest from offering congregational Friday prayers.
The spokesman said that Government has placed its leaders Moulana Abbas Ansari, Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat and Aga Syed Hassan Al Moosvi under house detention. “Other Hurriyat leaders have been arrested and kept in various police lock-ups across Kashmir”, the spokesman added.
Mirwaiz Omar Farooq who arrived in Srinagar yesterday was whisked away by Police from Srinagar International Airport and taken to Nageen Police Station and then shifted to his home and put under house arrest.
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