Situation remained under control; says DGP
Srinagar, Feb 10 : The State administration on Friday imposed curfew like restrictions in most parts of Srinagar to foil the proposed march to UNO, called by the joint resistance leadership.
The joint resistance leadership including Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik had appealed people to march towards UNO after the congregational Friday prayers.
However, the authorities imposed curfew like restrictions to foil the proposed march to UNO.
Witnesses said that authorities sealed off most parts of Srinagar including the business Hub Lal Chowk, Maisuma, Safakadal, Maharaj Gunj, Nowhatta and Khanyar.
Police and paramilitary were deployed on the roads to prevent protests. Police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were fanned out in the old city areas of Srinagar who had blocked all the roads with barricades and concertina wire to curtail pedestrian and vehicular movement in these areas.
Police and CRPF men were seen patrolling the deserted streets in old Srinagar.
Armoured vehicles were also seen at some road junctions to thwart any possible protests called by the leadership.
In the uptown Srinagar, men in uniform were deployed at many subtle places.
A top police official told KNS that restrictions were imposed to prevent UNO march called by the separatist leaders.
Besides restrictions in most parts of Srinagar and civil line areas, the rest of the Valley observed a spontaneous shutdown.
All shops, businesses establishments, petrol pumps and private offices remained closed in Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir.
Public transport also remained affected but private vehicles were seen plying on most of the roads. The strike also affected work in government offices, banks and post offices.
It is worth to mention here that it was the first Friday since 2016 uprising on which the leadership didn’t call for a strike in their protest calendar.
Meanwhile, as soon as the Friday prayers ended in Sopore are of north Kashmir, clashes erupted between youth and forces in the area.
The protesters were raising slogans in favour of ‘Azadi’ and were demanding mortal remains of Bhat, Guru, witnesses said.
They said that during the clashes, forces used tear smoke shells to disperse the youth who were pelting stones on them.
Meanwhile, reports said that the clashes between youth and forces were also reported from several areas including Palhallan, Soura, Safa Kadal, Parimpora and Batamaloo during which forces used tear gas canisters to disperse the agitating youth.
Meanwhile, the photojournalists who were covering clashes in Safa Kadal areas of Srinagar alleged harassment by the police officials. “We were harassed during the clashes in the area. We were just performing our duties but unfortunately, some police officials harassed us,” Aadil Ahmad, a photojournalist told KNS.
Director General of Police (DGP), S P Vaid told KNS that the situation across the Valley remained under control.
However, he said that reports of minor stone pelting incidents were reported from a few areas. “Barring a few stone pelting incidents, the situation across the Valley remained under control,” he added. (KNS)