Police put in place stringent restrictions on movement of people in Old Srinagar on Friday, even as protests were held in several uptown areas of the city, against the killing of Zahid Rasool Bhat of Batengoo village of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district by fanatics in Udhampur on October 9. The call for protests was given by Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani.
Though the Srinagar district administration had announced that areas falling under five police stations of old Srinagar shall remain under restrictions, curbs were put in place in many other areas as well.
According to local residents, the entire downtown or old Srinagar—apart from Maisuma area in Lal Chowk—was put under restrictions by police and paramilitary forces.
Residents of Nowhatta, Rajouri Kadal, Bohri Kadal and other areas of old Srinagar said police didn’t allow them to move out of their houses and buy even the morning bread.
Police and paramilitary forces, wearing riot gear, sealed entry and exit points to old Srinagar to stop people from taking to streets in protest against Zahid’s killing.
Police didn’t allow congregational Friday prayers at historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta where separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had announced a joint protest sit-in with Syed Ali Geelani and JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik, against Zahid’s killing, arrest of youth, “rising intolerance” in India, and detention of resistance leaders.
A spokesman of Awami Action Committee strongly denounced disallowing of congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid, calling it a “direct interference in religious affairs of people which can’t be tolerated at any cost.”
The AAC slammed the government for imposing curbs on movement of people on the auspicious days of Ashura.
While old Srinagar witnessed strict curbs, massive clashes broke out in uptown areas that include Hyderpora, Nowgam and Rangreth, against Zahid’s killing. Reports of intense clashes also poured in from Habba Kadal area of old Srinagar where several youth were also reportedly detained.
At Hyderpora, a protest rally was taken out by Hurriyat Conference (G) and led by its General Secretary Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai soon after Friday congregational prayers. Police swung into action and used teargas to disperse the protestors who were shouting slogans against the government and demanding exemplary punishment to the killers of Zahid Rasool Bhat.
Police also bundled a few Hurriyat (G) activists into its vehicles and took them into custody.
“Many of our activists were detained by police at Hyderpora,” said Hurriyat (G) spokesman Ayaz Akbar.
As per reports, youth resorted to stone-pelting at Nowgam and CRPF and police retaliating with tearg-gas shelling and baton-charge.
Reports of youth pelting stones at forces also poured in from Rangreth area of uptown. Police said it has “started investigation into stone-pelting incidents at Rangreth.”
According to residents of Habba Kadal in old Srinagar, many youth were detained by police after the area witnessed clashes.
A peaceful protest rally was also taken out at Pantha Chowk after Friday congregational prayers.
NORTH KASHMIR
In response to separatist call for protests, clashes between youth and police were witnessed in Palhallan and Baramulla towns in north Kashmir.
Soon after the Friday prayers, a group of youth appeared near Tehsil point and main Chowk of Baramulla town and started pelting stones at forces. However, the forces chased them, witnesses said.
In Palhallan area, clashes between police and youths erupted after Friday prayers.
Police used tear-gas shells to disperse the protesting youths.
Protests and clashes also erupted in Sopore after Friday prayers.
According to reports, hundreds of youth assembled at main Chowk Sopore against the detention of pro-freedom leaders and killing of Zahid Rasool Bhat. Police resorted to heavy tear gas shelling to disperse the protestors.
SEPARATISTS CAGED
Separatist leaders continued to remain in custody or under house arrest. While Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq continued to remain under house arrest, JKLF chief is still in police station Kothibagh along with Hurriyat (M) leader Javaid Ahmed Mir.
Senior separatist leaders that include Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Ayaz Akbar and others have also been placed under house arrest.
A police spokesman said amid a “few stray incidents of stone pelting, the day passed off peacefully.”
