Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Feb 20: There was a mixed response to the strike called by the hardline Hurriyat Conference in support of the demand for handing over the body of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, who was hanged in Tihar Jail early this month.
The hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who is under house arrest in Delhi, had called for three day strike in Kashmir to press for the return of Guru’s body to his family. Geelani had called for complete civil curfew on Wednesday and Thursday, while a shutdown after Friday prayers followed by peaceful protests.
The shops and business establishments in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk, old city area remained closed, while in most the shops were open in other parts the Valley.
The public transport remained off the roads in most of the major towns of the Valley, however, some of the private cars were plying in Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir valley.
In Srinagar, outskirts and parts of civil lines area, life was near normal as the strike call failed to evoke much of a response in these areas. Majority of the shops were open.
The Government offices and banks in Kashmir valley remained open. However, majority of the employees faced difficulties in reaching their offices due to lack of public transport.
Hundreds of policemen donning riot gear were deployed in the sensitive areas in Srinagar and other towns to thwart any possible protest.
However, in Srinagar’s old city areas, the authorities had kept minimum presence of police and para-military forces in the streets. There were no reports of any protests or clashes from old city area. However, shops were closed and hardly few private cars were seen plying in the old city.
Authorities on Tuesday imposed restrictions under Section 144 CrPC in Srinagar apprehending law and order problems in view of the three-day strike called by the separatist group. While imposing restrictions, he had said the restrictions have been imposed to avoid breach of peace and tranquillity, besides loss of life and damage to property.
A police spokesman said here this evening that the situation remained peaceful across the Valley. “No incident of violence or stone pelting was reported from any place”, he said.
The spokesman said that private traffic was plying normally while as public transport was partially plying in all parts of the Valley.
However, there were minor clashes in Shopian, Pulwama and Tangmarg areas of Kashmir valley. Police used batons and fired tear smoke to disperse the protesters.
In the meantime, a statement issued by the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference said that senior leaders of the outfit – Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, Agha Syed Hassan were put under house arrest while Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Hakim Abdul Rashid and many others were detained.
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