Srinagar, September 15: Day after government forces killed Lashkar-e-Toiba Valley chief, Abu Ismail and his associate in a brief gunfight on city outskirts, authorities today imposed restrictions in parts of downtown here and disallowed Friday prayers at Jama Masjid.
According to news agency GNS, the authorities imposed restrictions in certain parts of downtown areas falling under five police stations including MR Gunj, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Khanyar and SafaKadal. Reports said that since morning hundreds of government forces men were deployed in the areas that were placed under restrictions while residents were confined to their houses.
The restrictions were tightly in place at Nowhatta, Gojwara, Bohri Kadal and Rajouri Kadal. The forces once again disallowed Friday prayers at historic Jama Masjid and for this purpose had locked main gates of the mosque. Sources said that the restrictions were imposed as there were apprehensions of large scale protests in Old City after prayers at Jama Masjid in Nowhatta area against the killing of LeT chief Abu Ismail.
Many other areas of the downtown were however free from curbs and normal life went on smoothly without any law and order problem. The situation in rest of the city was by and large peaceful. Reports said that Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leaders and activists held a protest at Maisuma after Friday prayers against the NIA raids. In Mochwa, the youths took to railway track and clashed with forces against Ismail killing. Similar clashes raged in few parts of downtown in evening hours.
Meanwhile, people offered funeral in absentia for Abu Ismail and Abu Qasim at Pampore afterFriday prayers. In view of the apprehensions of protests, the teaching work in all colleges and schools remained suspended today in Srinagar and Ganderbal districts on the directions of administration. (GNS)