Fayaz Bukhari
—Excelsior/Shakeel
SRINAGAR, Sept 30: Authorities today sealed city centre Lal Chowk to foil protest march by separatists even as curfew, restrictions and shutdown paralysed life in Kashmir for 84th day today and police arrested 49 people on charges of creating trouble in Valley.
Authorities today sealed Lal Chowk and imposed curfew and restrictions in Srinagar to foil the protest march called by the separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik.
Schools, colleges, shops and other business establishments, petrol pumps remained closed while traffic remained off the roads. However, some private vehicles were plying in some areas where there was no curfew and restrictions. The train services from Banihal to Baramulla and pre-paid mobile services and mobile internet continued to remain disrupted.
Lal Chowk and its adjoining areas were sealed last night and police and para- military forces were patrolling the areas to foil separatist march. The old city areas were also sealed with concertina wires and mobile bunkers were put at vantage points to prevent movement of people and traffic.
The Friday prayers were not allowed at Jamia Masjid in old city Srinagar for 12 consecutive Fridays.
Protests were reported from several areas of Srinagar including, Abi Guzar, Barzulla, Hyderpora, Ram Bagh and Dalgate.
Clashes erupted between protesters and security forces in Dalgate, Kani Kadal Chota Bazar area of Habba Kadal, Chattabal, Nowgam, Natipora and Rainawari areas of Srinagar during which security forces fired tear gas to disperse the protesters.
At Jogi Lankar area of Rainawari, security forces fired teargas following protests by locals. One protester was injured in security forces action. Clashes spread to Kralyar and Mughal Mohalla in Rainawari area.
Clashes were also reported from Batamaloo area of Srinagar. Security forces resorted to aerial firing after their vehicle came under stone pelting in the area this morning.
Clashes erupted in Hajin area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district during which scores of people were injured as police and CRPF fired teargas and pellets to disperse the protesters. Two protesters were also arrested by police during the clashes.
Clashes broke out in main town Bandipora at Papchan and Khumina areas between protesters and security forces during which security forces fired teargas to disperse the protesters.
Dozens of civilians were injured during the clashes between protesters and security forces at Nadihal area of Baramulla district. Several protesters were injured during the clashes as security used force against protesters. One of the injured Ashiq Ahmad Lone, son of Ghulam Ahmad Lone was shifted to Srinagar for treatment.
Clashes erupted between security forces and protesters in Baramulla after Friday prayers. Security forces fired teargas to disperse the protesters.
Clashes erupted between protesters and security forces in Goriwan area of South Kashmir’s Bijbehara town after the Friday prayers. Security forces fired teargas to disperse the stone throwing protesters.
According to a statement issued by the Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, situation across the Valley remained under control today although stray incidents of stone pelting were reported.
“As a precautionary measure curfew was imposed in few police stations of Srinagar today while all other areas of the Valley remained curfew free,” the statement said.
According to the statement, after Friday prayers stray stone pelting incidents were reported from Sopore, Bandipora and Srinagar. “Miscreants in their attempt to disturb the situation assembled on roads and pelted stones on police and security force deployments,” it said adding they were chased away by security forces using some force.
“Barring these incidents situation remained under control,” the statement said adding that the police in its continuous and sustained drive against miscreants arrested 49 such individuals involved in different offences of disturbing the situation in different parts of the Valley.
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