Authorities on Thursday imposed curfew-like restrictions in parts of Srinagar to foil the proposed rally by moderate Hurriyat at Eidgah here to commemorate the death anniversary of pro-freedom leaders Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone.
Elsewhere, in the Kashmir Valley the strike called by Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq affected normal life with most of the places registering partial to complete strike.
Shops, educational institutions and businesses remained closed and public transport stayed off the roads in Srinagar while same reports were received from other towns of the Valley. An official spokesman said restrictions under Section 144 CrPC were imposed as a precautionary measure in five police station areas of Srinagar. Hundreds of policemen and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel wearing battle gear were seen patrolling old city.
Security forces had also erected checkpoints and barricades on all roads leading to old Srinagar. They also laid concertina wires to stop any type of movement. The residents of downtown city complained the high-handedness by the police and CRPF while enforcing the ‘curfew.’
Authorities had ordered residents of the old city Srinagar to stay indoors and had put Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was scheduled to lead the rally later on Thursday, and some other separatist leaders under house arrest.
Mirwaiz Farooq, father of Mirwaiz Umar, was killed inside his house on May 21, 1990 while Lone fell to bullets during a commemoration function of the late Mirwaiz in 2002.
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