Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Mar 7: Curfew in parts of Kashmir and spontaneous shut down disrupted normal life while around 40 people including security men were injured in clashes that broke out in parts of Kashmir. And hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani who arrived in Srinagar this afternoon was whisked away from Srinagar Airport and put under house arrest.
Apprehending trouble after the Friday prayers on separatists call, authorities this evening announced imposition of curfew in entire Srinagar city and major towns of Kashmir valley for Friday.
An official spokesman said here: “In view of law and order situation and to avoid breach of peace and tranquility and damage to life and property, District Magistrate Srinagar, in exercise of the powers vested him under Section 144 Cr. P.C. has imposed restrictions on the movement of public and transport in entire district Srinagar from midnight of March 7, 2013 till further orders. Senior Superintendent of Police has been directed to implement this order in letter and spirit.”
Earlier in the day, authorities imposed curfew in parts of Srinagar and North Kashmir valley to avoid any trouble after clashes took place across Kashmir yesterday. “Curfew will remain in place in Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj, Safa Kadal, Zadibal, Maisuma and Kralkhud police station areas in Srinagar and Trehgam and Sopore towns of North Kashmir,” a police spokesman said here this morning.
The spokesman said that the situation across Kashmir valley remained largely peaceful today. “Some stone pelting incidents were reported in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley”, he added.
The spokesman further said: “Miscreants pelted stones in Batamaloo and Zakoora in Srinagar, Khanpora, Cement bridge and Palhalan in Baramulla, Narbal crossing in Budgam, Papchan in Bandipora, Cherkoot Lolab in Kupwara. Police exercised maximum restraint chased them away. Nine policemen and two civilians received minor injuries.”
The chairman of hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference, who arrived in Srinagar this afternoon was wished away by police from Srinagar Airport and kept under house arrest in his house at Hyderpora. Geelani was in New Delhi since December 11 and was kept under house arrest after Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was hanged last month.
Scores of supporters of Geelani had gathered outside his residence to welcome him. However, a large contingent of police was waiting there to maintain law and order. As Geelani was put under house arrest and they were not allowed to meet him, they pelted stones at police. Police fired tear smoke and charged batons on them leading to clashes on Airport road.
Condemning the restrictions on his movement and not allowing people to meet him at his residence, Geelani said the State was trying to muzzle the voice of people and leaders through “police high handedness”.
Despite curfew and heightened security in Srinagar city clashes broke out been protesters and police and CRPF at several places. Clashes broke out at Batmaloo, Safa Kadal, Humhama, Hyderpora, Barzulla, Bemina, Nowgam, Soura, Amira Kadal and Habba Kadal. Police fired tear smoke shells and charged batons on protesters. The ding dong battles continued for several hours.
Family of a 65 year old woman alleged that she died due to the use of pepper gas by Police and CRPF in Safa Kadal area of Srinagar today. Locals said that Hajira wife of Ghulam Hassan of Safa Kadal was suffering from some respiratory disorder and died due to excessive use of pepper gas during protests for past couple of days.
In Baramulla protesters pelted stones at police and CRPF near Gulnar Park and Devan Bagh leading to clashes during which during police charged batons and fired tear smoke shells in which two youth were injured.
A large number of people carried out a protest march from Jamia Masjid Baramulla that passed through Qazi Hamam, Khawaja Bagh and Jamia Mohalla and culminated at the house of Tahir Ahmad Sofi who was killed in Army firing two days ago.
Protests broke out in Sopore despite curfew and protesters clashed with police leading to tear smoke shelling.
Protests also broke out in Lolab where three protesters and 6 security men were injured in clashes. Hundreds of people marched from Khumriyat to Cherkote in Lolab in district Kupwara this morning. They were intercepted by police and CRPF by firing tear smoke shells on them. The protesters pelted stones on the security forces during which a protester was hit by a security force vehicle. He was removed to Srinagar for treatment. Two persons Zakir Hussain and Nisar Ahmad and six police men were injured in the clashes.
Protests were reported from Trehgam, Kralpora, Hari, Batargam and Langate areas of Kupwara district and protesters clashed with police and CRPF. Security forces fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
Protests also broke out in Palhalan and Pattan areas of Baramulla district during which police fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters. A 15-year old boy Aqib was injured in the tear smoke shelling. He was removed to hospital for treatment.
Protests also broke out in Pulwama, Shpian and Kulgam districts during which security forces fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
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