Complete shutdown was observed across Kashmir on Friday even as all official R-day functions including the main function held in Srinagar passed off peacefully.
The government resorted to communication blockade since Thursday evening by first snapping the mobile internet services at 8 pm and then barring mobile phone services late in the night.
Normal life came to a grinding halt as the strike call given by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik evoked total response. The JRL had also called for protests after Friday prayers against the civilian killings.
All shops and other commercial establishments were shut across Kashmir. Roads wore a deserted look as no traffic plied. Only government forces vehicles was seen plying in LalChowk, Moulana Azad Road and Residency Road.
There was an undeclared curfew in Downtown areas that include MahrajGunj, SafaKadal, Khanyar, Rainawari and Nowhatta. “There was a huge deployment of forces including paramilitary CRPF personnel wearing riot gear. Main roads were blocked with rolls of concertina wires to ensure no anti-government protest takes place,” locals said.
Reports from various district headquarters suggested that complete shutdown was observed in Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag. Similar reports poured in from Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts. There was no movement of inter-district transport.
Amid stringent curbs in Downtown areas, the government disallowed the congregational Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, evoking strong criticism from the AuqafJamia Masjid. Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also placed under house arrest on Thursday evening and wasn’t allowed to proceed towards Jamia Masjid to deliver Friday sermon there.
“Once again no prayers allowed in barricaded and garrisoned downtown including the Jama Masjid, while all channels of communication remain blocked and leadership put under forced detention by the ‘republican state’,” Mirwaiz wrote on his Twitter handle. JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik was recently arrested and lodged in Central Jail Srinagar while Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani continues to remain under house arrest at his Hyderpora residence for past eight years.
A source said that many middle-rung Hurriyat leaders were also either taken into preventive police custody or placed under house detention. Hurriyat (M) leader ErHilal Ahmed War was also placed under house arrest since Thursday.
Additional director general of police Kashmir range, Muneer Khan, said the day passed off peacefully. “There was no untoward incident anywhere in Kashmir. All functions were held smoothly,” he said.
Internet, mobile phone services barred: The government snapped mobile internet services across Kashmir at 8 pm on Thursday in run-up to the R-day. Mobile phone services were also snapped across the Valley late on Thursday night.
A mobile phone service provider said they had strict orders from the police to stop internet services first and then mobile phone services too. A police official said the step was taken as a “precautionary measure.” The internet and mobile phone services were restored at 1 pm by all the service providers.
This was for the first time that the internet services were suspended day ahead of the R-day though it has been a routine practice of the government to snap mobile internet on January 26 and August 15.
Joint Resistance Leadership strike call evokes total response across Kashmir
