Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Feb 15 Curfew has been lifted from Srinagar city and other major towns of Kashmir valley, Director General of Police Ashok Prasad told Excelsior this evening.
He said that there would be no curfew tomorrow in any part of Kashmir valley. He, however, said that police and security forces will be deployed at sensitive places not for curfew but for dealing with any law and order problem.
The DGP said that since the Hurriyat Conference (G) has given a strike call, security forces will be deployed to keep an eye on law and order situation tomorrow. He said that imposition of curfew was inevitable after the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
Earlier, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviewed security situation in Kashmir valley at his residence and directed the security forces to keep a tight vigil at the situation. The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Kitchloo and Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad.
The Chief Minister in the morning today defended imposition of curfew in the Valley on a social media website. “Even these restrictions would not have been necessary if we didn’t have amongst us those determined to create trouble out of this situation,” Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.
Omar, however, clarified that there are no restrictions on offering prayers at local mosques. “There will be no restriction on people offering Friday prayers in their local Mosques,” Omar said.
In the meantime, the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference led by, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has called for two more days strike for Saturday and Sunday. He has demanded return of Guru’s body to his family for last rites.
Apprehending trouble on the occasion of Friday, authorities’ last night re-imposed curfew in Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir valley after it was relaxed in parts of Kashmir yesterday.
Police announced imposition of curfew in Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir valley last night only. Police asked people not to venture out of their homes as curfew has been imposed in Srinagar and other major towns.
The curfew was imposed to prevent trouble on the occasion of Friday gatherings in Kashmir valley. This was the first Friday since the Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was hanged in Tihar Jail on Saturday.
The decision to impose curfew in all major towns and Srinagar city was taken as hardline separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, had called for a march to Srinagar’s Eidgah. He had asked for the march in protest against hanging of Guru.
Police and paramilitary CRPF were deployed in large numbers across the Srinagar city and all roads leading to Eidgah in old city were sealed. They had erected barricades at many places within the city.
Despite curfew there were protests across Kashmir at several places. Hundreds of people came out on streets in non-curfew bound areas and raised slogans against handing of Afzal Guru.
People from majority of the curfew bound areas alleged that no Friday prayers were offered in main Masjids across Srinagar and other major towns as curfew was strictly enforced. However, majority of people offered Friday prayers in local Masjids.
Barring few incidents of stone pelting and tear-smoke shelling at several places the situation by and large remained peaceful. In Naid Kahi area of district Bandipora, police and security forces restored to tear-smoke shelling on protesters. One person Ghulam Nabi Dar was injured in security forces firing during clashes and he was removed to hospital for treatment. Police said one person Ghulam Nabi Dar son of Abdul Rahman resident of Naid Khai got injured in his right leg at Naid Khai who has been hospitalized.
In Aloosa area of Bandipora district, hundreds of protesters attacked police post Aloosa. However, police fired tear-smoke and charged batons on the protesters to push them back. When the clashes were going on reports said a cylinder blast took place inside the police station during which it was damaged partially.
There were stray incidents of stone pelting followed by baton charging and tear-smoke shelling at Azad Gunj Baramulla, Handwara, Muran Pulwama, Charar-i-Sharief, Beerwah, Nasarullahpora in district Budgam, at several places in district Kulgam, Anantnag, Shopian and old city area of Srinagar.
Police said that they exercised maximum restraint while tackling the law and order situations. “Three policemen were also injured in a pelting incident at Handwara and Charar-i-Sharief”, police added.
Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Farooq Shah told Excelsior that situation in Anantnag remained peaceful during curfew and informed that curfew has been lifted from the district. He said that administration and two local Ministers, Peerzada Sayeed and Ghulam Ahmad Mir, reviewed the supply position in the district today.
Meanwhile, mobile internet and news channels on Cable TV were restored today. Mobile Internet facility was withdrawn and news Channels on cable TV were taken off air ahead of Guru’s hanging on Saturday.
Three persons died and over 80 others were injured in clashes between protestors and security forces after Guru was hanged last Saturday.
Our Jammu Correspondent adds :
A shutdown was observed in parts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts today in protest against the execution of Afzal Guru, who was hanged in Tihar jail on February 9 for his conviction in 2001 Parliament attack case.
However, the day passed off peacefully with no untoward incident reported from any part of the three districts. The people dispersed after Friday prayers peacefully and made no attempt at any place to take out processions.
Police authorities had made elaborate security arrangements with deployment of additional forces of police and para-military in all three districts as they anticipated that some vested interest could exploit the situation after Friday prayers.
DIG Doda-Ramban range Gareeb Dass said situation remained peaceful in all three districts.
Banihal town of Ramban district observed a complete shutdown during the day with all shops and other business establishments remaining closed in protest against the execution of Afzal Guru. However, traffic plied normally on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
SSP Ramban Anil Magotra, who camped in sensitive Banihal town, said the people dispersed peacefully after Friday prayers in Banihal and other places of the district.
Sources said the Imams and other religious leaders in all three districts while addressing the Friday prayers condemned the execution of Afzal Guru and urged the Government to hand over his body to the family for performing last rites.
At some places, the Imams and the religious leaders cautioned that the Government shouldn’t compel them to create law and order problem by not handing over the body of Guru to his family.
In Kishtwar district, Kishtwar and Chatroo towns observed a hartal against the execution of Guru. Most of the shops in the two towns were closed.
Bhaderwah town of Doda district also observed a shutdown against the execution but the situation remained peaceful, SSP Doda Arif Reshu said. He added that police had made tight security arrangements to meet with any situation.
In some of the towns, which observed shutdown today, the shops owned by minority community remained open.
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