Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Mar 1: Normal life in Kashmir valley was disrupted today due to strike called by a group of separatists demanding return of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s body to his family. Around half a dozen protests were injured in clashes with police that broke out in the afternoon at several places in Kashmir valley.
Shops, business establishments, petrol pumps and some banks remained closed due to the strike called by Consultation Committee, formed early this week by separatist groups to put pressure on the Government for handing over of body of Guru.
The public transport remained off roads while taxis, autorickshaws, private transport was plying in the towns and Srinagar city.
Police and para-military Central Reserve Police (CRPF) were heavily deployed at sensitive areas of Srinagar to prevent any violence.
Protests broke out in parts of Srinagar’s old city, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Ganderbal in response to a call given by separatists.
In Maisuma activists of JKLF carried out a protest demonstration but were chased away by police.
Protests were also reported from old city areas of Kawdara, Nowhatta, Mahraj Gunj, Khanyar after Friday prayers.
At Kawdara some of the protesters tried to march towards Rajouri Kadal. They were intercepted by police leading to stone pelting and tear gas shelling and baton charging by police.
In North Kashmir’s Trehgam area hundreds of people held a protest demonstration and they clashed with police by pelting stones at them. Police responded with tear gas shelling and charged batons on them. One person was injured in the clashes.
Protests were held at Kupwara and Handwara after Friday prayers as people came out of Jamia Masjids in these towns.
Protests also broke out at Baramulla and protesters clashed with police by pelting stones at them at several places in the township. Police chased them away by resorting to baton charging.
Protests also broke out at Sopore, Bandipora,Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag and Shopian but they mostly remained peaceful.
At Pulwama’s Kakapora area protesters clashed with police and CRPF. Protesters pelted stones at Police resulting in clashes during which several protesters were injured.
In the meantime, hardline Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, addressed a protest rally held at South Kashmir township of Shopian over phone. Geelani told the protesters that separatists will continue to protest till the Guru’s boy is returned to his family.
The Chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was not allowed to move out of his house today to offer Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid Srinagar.
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