JOIN USAuthorities on Sunday clamped undeclared curfew in several parts of Srinagar to thwart protest rallies and processions scheduled by separatists on the first death anniversary of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru who was hanged in Tihar jail on February 9 last.
Elsewhere in the Valley, reports said, a complete shutdown was observed in response to the strike call given by various separatist and militant organisations. Barring Handwara in north Kashmir, all major towns in the Valley had been put under security restrictions with heavy deployment of paramilitary CRPF and police personnel, it added.
Curfew like restrictions were also imposed in old city areas where roads were sealed by stationing armoured vehicles and laying spools of concertina wires.
Contingents of police and paramilitary troopers were deployed in strength in these areas who restricted people to their homes. In uptown areas, a complete shutdown was observed with all the shops, businesses and offices remaining closed. However, scarce movement of private vehicles was witnessed.
In the morning, police arrested JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik after he along with dozens of supporters tried to march from his office in Maisuma towards city centre Lal Chowk. The march was part of the JKLF’s demand for the return of the mortal remains of Guru to his family.
Angry over the detention of Malik and other JKLF leaders, youth took to streets and clashed with police in Maisuma, the headquarters of JKLF, which was virtually sealed by police and paramilitary forces.
Barring the clash in Maisuma, a few areas of old city and north Kashmir’s Sopore and Bandipora districts the strike remained peaceful, as authorities had deployed thousands of police and paramilitary forces across the Valley.
A police spokesman said the situation remained normal throughout Kashmir. “However, some minor stone pelting incidents have been reported from Naidkhai Sumbal, Papchan, Main Chowk Bandipora, Kangan in Ganderbal and Hadipora Sopore. There are no reports of any injury to anybody,” he said.
Guru was hanged and buried inside Delhi’s Tihar jail. Separatists have issued a call for a three-day shutdown till February 11, which date marks the death anniversary of JKLF founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat who was hanged and buried inside the same jail 30 years ago.
The internet services on mobile phones and through dongles in Kashmir were suspended on Sunday as part of the “precautionary measures.”