The authorities here today foiled the proposed Eidgah march of separatists to commemorate Moulvi Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone on their death anniversaries.
Meanwhile, a shutdown called jointly by the separatists hit life across the Valley.
In view of the separatists’ call to march to Eidgah, where the two leaders are buried, the authorities had imposed restrictions in the areas falling under the police stations of Khanyar, Nowhatta, MR Gunj, Rainawari and Safa Kadal in Srinagar.
District Magistrate, Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Lone said the restrictions were imposed as a precautionary measure and to avoid any law and order problem.
The movement of separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was also restricted as a precautionary measure.
Normal life was affected across the Kashmir valley in response to the shutdown call jointly given by the separatist leaders —Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik — to commemorate the slain leaders.
All shops and business establishments remained closed and normal traffic was off the roads. While private vehicles and autorickshaws were seen plying in some areas, the public transport was off the roads in most areas.
The flea market and the footpath vendors were also not seen along Residency Road today.
Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq, father of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was killed by unidentified gunmen at his Nigeen residence on May 21, 1990, months after militancy erupted in Kashmir. At least 50 others were also killed when security forces opened fire on mourners at Hawal in Srinagar following his death.
Senior APHC leader Abdul Ghani Lone fell to the bullets of unidentified gunmen 12 years later at a commemorating rally at Eidgah on May 21, 2002.
Meanwhile, hardline APHC chairman Syed Ali Geelani has condemned the detention of Hurriyat Conference leaders and placing curbs on the movement of people on the death anniversaries of Moulvi Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone. He termed the restrictions a “kind of state-sponsored terrorism”.
“‘Disallowing people to commemorate their martyrs is unethical,’ said Geelani, adding that people will be left with no alternative other than to take the issue in their hands and resent through all possible means,” a Hurriyat Conference spokesman said.
Restrictions in Srinagar
In view of the separatists’ march to Eidgah in Srinagar on Sunday, the authorities had imposed restrictions in the areas falling under the police stations of Khanyar, Nowhatta, Maharaja Gunj, Rainawari and Safa Kadal in Srinagar
District Magistrate, Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Lone said the restrictions were imposed as a precautionary measure and to avoid any law and order problem
Shutdown, Restrictions affects life in Kashmir
