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Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Oct 13: Restrictions in parts of Srinagar and shutdown across Kashmir paralysed life in Valley for 97th consecutive day today while 52 persons were arrested on charges of stone pelting and creating trouble. The Jawahar Tunnel that was closed for night traffic in July for security reasons due to unrest has been thrown open 24×7.
Shops, commercial establishments, educational institutes were closed and public transport remained off the roads but private cars and two wheelers were plying in civil lines and uptown areas of city. The vendors had also put up their stalls in several areas of civil lines including Lal Chowk, Jehangir Chowk and near TRC.
Restrictions were imposed in the areas falling under five police Stations of MR Gunj, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Rainawari and Safa Kadal. Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was deployed in full strength in these areas and they had closed the roads with barbed wire to restrict the movement of traffic and civilians.
Police and CRPF was also deployed in strength in Habba Kadal and Maisuma areas of Srinagar.
A statement issued by Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir said the situation across Kashmir remained peaceful today. “There was no curfew anywhere in the Valley and there was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere,” the statement said adding adequate deployment was made in sensitive areas.
The statement said the roads witnessed constant increase in traffic in Srinagar city as well as in the towns across the Valley. “Shops were open and a large number of vendors were on the streets,” it said.
The statement said that in the drive launched by the police to nab the miscreants and the persons involved in disruption of normal activities, 52 more such persons were arrested, during the past 24 hours.
Another statement said that with hustle and bustle returning to the Srinagar streets and other towns, the situation across Kashmir remained peaceful today. “There was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere till filing of this report. There was no curfew anywhere in the Valley. However, adequate deployment was made in sensitive areas. Today also some Muharram processions were taken out in Budgam and Srinagar”, the statement said.
Clashes erupted in South Kashmir’s Shopian district this morning when police and CRPF men raided house of Hurriyat Conference leader Mohammad Yousuf Falahi in Chitragam village.
Hundreds of people came out of their homes to protest against the raid and police fired teargas and pellets to disperse off the protestors. Falahi has been holding and addressing protest rallies ever since July and is on the run because of the police raids.
Protests and stone pelting was also reported from Mulu village in Shopian where few protesters were injured in security forces action.
Clashes erupted in Tahab village of Pulwama in south Kashmir today after security forces arrested three people on charges of stone pelting. Security forces fired teargas to foil the protests.
In the meantime, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, today said Jawahar Tunnel would remain open round the clock to facilitate hassle free movement on the National Highway.
He said the decision was taken in view of transportation of fruits, Ladakh Supplies, winter stocking and to make travel of passengers on Srinagar-Jammu road easy and to avoid unnecessary traffic jams.
He also said winter supplies have to be carried out in a time bound manner because of impending winter and it was deemed necessary to keep both tubes of the Jawahar Tunnel open 24 hours a day for the same.
The tunnel was closed for night traffic due to unrest in Kashmir in July for security reasons.
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