Separatists' march foiled ahead of PM's visit

A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir, authorities on Friday foiled the separatists’ march the to historic Jamia Masjid here.

Police and paramilitary CRPF personnel had erected steel barricades and laid razor wire on roads and ordered the residents to stay indoors in old parts of Srinagar. The city's main mosque, Jamia Masjid was cordoned off and Friday prayers were barred.

Locals told Deccan Herald over phone that police and paramilitary personnel deployed didn’t allow them to head towards the Jamia Masjid.

Moderate Hurriyat led by Mirwaiz Umar had called for “Jamia Masjid Chalo” to express solidarity with the Muslims of Jammu region. Hardline Hurriyat led by Syed Ali Geelani has also planned a rally on Saturday near the site of the public meeting by PM Modi here.

Reports said presence of police vehicles, concertina wires and heavy security checking on the roads left little choice for people in Srinagar but to remain indoors, a day before Modi's visit to the Valley.

The movement of people was also restricted around the venue for “Million March” called by Geelani to counter Modi’s rally. TRC Ground, just metres away from the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium remained sealed with barbed wire and a thick deployment of police personnel.

Security was also beefed up in the wake of grenade attack on a CRPF installation in the old city on Thursday evening in which 11 personnel were injured.