Protests were held at different places after Friday prayers in Kashmir, leading to clashes between protesters and the police while normal life was paralysed across the Valley today on the separatists’ bandh call against identity certificates to West Pakistan refugees (WPRs).
Protests that sparked clashes between the protesters and the police took place after the congregational Friday prayers in the Nowhatta area of downtown Srinagar, where the Jamia Masjid is located. Youths agitating against the grant of identity certificates to WPRs indulged in stone-throwing on the police and CRPF men deployed in the area, leading to the clashes. The police resorted to cane-charge and lobbed teargas shells to quell the demonstrators. The vehicular and pedestrian movement towards Jamia Masjid was also restricted.
Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq criticised the move to disallow people from reaching there and thwart the “peaceful protests” against the “domicile rights to WPRs and using the judiciary to subvert the Kashmir dispute.”
In south Kashmir, JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was detained by the police while leading demonstrations in Pulwama town after the Friday prayers. The police lobbed teargas shells to quell the demonstrators. Earlier, Malik gave the slip to the police and reached Pulwama town to lead the demonstrations against the identity certificates to the WPRs.
The police lobbed teargas shells to quell demonstrators after the Friday prayers in Sopore town of Baramulla district in north Kashmir. Reports said groups of youths, protesting over the WPRs’ issue, indulged in stone-throwing on the police personnel, leading to clashes.
Normal life was paralysed across the Valley on the first day of the bandh call given jointly by the separatist leaders, as per the fortnight-long protest calendar that comes to an end tomorrow. The separatist leadership had also called for protest programmes after the Friday prayers today against the issuance of identity certificates to the refugees.
All shops and business establishments were closed and normal traffic was off the roads in Srinagar and other major towns of the Valley. However, private vehicles and autorickshaws were plying normally in the major towns and several areas of the Valley.
Resistance camp extends protest program till Jan 15
Kashmir’s joint resistance leadership has extended ongoing protest program for right to self-determination till January 15.
In a statement, the resistance leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik urged people to hold ‘Freedom Congregations’ on Fridays.
“Post-Friday prayer, hold Freedom Congregations across Jammu & Kashmir at places identified and agreed upon locally and mutually; Resistance/Masjid Committees/Youth Volunteers of Villages/Localities must coordinate and ensure the arrangements,” they said. On this day, there will be no relaxation in shutdown.
On Saturdays, the resistance leaders have called for ‘Tehsil Headquarters Azadi March’.
“From 7 am, join Azadi March towards respective Tehsil Headquarters. March on two wheelers (Motorcycles & Bicycles) and march by foot; If and wherever stopped, assemble, occupy and protest at that place till 4 pm; Resistance/Masjid Committees/Youth Volunteers of these areas coordinate and ensure the arrangements,” they said. On this day, there will be no relaxation.
The resistance leaders have given full-day relaxations on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with different protest programs.
“On Sundays, people are requested to use exclusively public transport for support of transporters’ community; As a social and community responsibility, encourage your family and friends as well for the same.”
On Mondays, the resistance leaders urged people to hold sit-in for two hours. “From 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, hold sit-in protest at Tehsil Headquarters along with placards and banners highlighting the atrocities (unleashed) in the present uprising,” they said.
On Tuesdays, the resistance leaders urged women to observe Women’s Day. “Assemble and Occupy local chowks and centres from Zuhr to Asr in the vicinity of your mohallas, villages and localities; protest with Flags, Placards and Banners with Freedom messages and slogans,” they said.
On Wednesdays, the resistance leaders urged lawyers to hold sit-in protest from 2 pm to 4 pm in court premises.
On Thursdays, the resistance leaders urged people to use exclusively public transport for support of transporters’ community. “As a social and community responsibility, encourage your family and friends as well for the same,” they said.
The resistance leaders appealed people in general and transporters and traders in particular to follow the program in letter and spirit.
“People should hold shutdown across Jammu and Kashmir on all days except for the relaxation mentioned in the program. Relaxation period is for all including Public and private transport as well as factories, educational institutions and other industrial unit holders. Public and private vehicular movement not to be stopped after 10 pm to 8 am on all nights,” they said. “Lockdown all the routes entering your Mohallas, Villages and Localities by every means during night to protect people in general and youth in particular from the raids and arrests by Indian forces and J&K Police. Play Islamic and Azadi Taranas from Maghrib to Isha on all days.”
Shutdown, Protests over West Pakistan refugees, Resistance extends protest program till Jan 15
