Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Nov 2: Normal life was paralysed and there was chaos in Srinagar city today as people in major parts of the city woke up to undeclared curfew like restrictions this morning.
Curfew like restrictions were imposed to prevent Shias from taking out Muharram processions to mark the eighth day of the 10-day mourning period.
An official said here that strict prohibitory orders under Section 144 were imposed in the areas falling under Shaheed Gunj, Batamaloo, Shergarhi, Karan Nagar, Maisuma, Ram Munshi Bagh, Kothi Bagh, Kralkhud and Parimpora Police Stations of Srinagar city. He said the restrictions in these areas were imposed to maintain law and order.
Police and para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were deployed in large numbers in areas under prohibitory orders to prevent any unlawful activity.
Since early morning authorities had deployed police and paramilitary personnel in large numbers to prevent people from coming out in nine police station areas in the city. All the entry points leading to the city center Lal Chowk were sealed and civilian movement was stopped in areas Dalgate, Maisuma and Shaheed Gunj from where the annual procession was scheduled to pass.
The police had laid concertina wires and barricades at several places in the city at Iqbal Park, Shalteng, Amira Kadal, TRC Crossing, Dalgate, Karan Nagar, Jahangir Chowk, Budshah Chowk and Footbridge to prevent the civilian movement.
Shops and other business establishment including Sunday Market remained closed.
The mourners at some place, however, defied the restrictions and tried to take out processions. Reports said mourners assembled at Batamaloo and tried to proceed towards Shaheed Gunj, but police dispersed them.
Reports of processions were also received from Khanpora, Yechegam, Palar villages in Budgam, Magam, Bemina in Srinagar, Hygam in Baramulla.
A police spokesman said there were no reports of any untoward incident from any place. “Situation remained normal and under control throughout the Valley. As a precautionary measure, authorities had put in place restrictions under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, under areas falling under seven police stations which included Ram Munshi Bagh, Maisuma, Kothibagh, Kralkhud, Parmipora, Shaheed Gunj and Sherghari,” he added.
The month of Muharram marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) in the battle of Karbala some 1400 years ago. Sunday was the eighth day of Muharram, when Shias take out processions in parts of Srinagar city.
Muharram processions have been banned by the Government in Kashmir since militancy started in 1990 for security reasons.
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