Kashmir is witnessing a complete shutdown against the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.
All the shops, business establishments and schools remain shut across the Valley.
Meanwhile, heavy deployment of government forces has been put in length and breadth of Srinagar city to thaw the Lal Chowk Rally called by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL).
Kashmir Post’s Bandipora correspondent informed Newsroom that the district is witnessing a complete shutdown while traffic is also off the raods.
Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik have asked people to gather at Lal Chowk Challo against the visit of Prime Minister’s visit to the state.
Kashmir Post’s Pulwama/Shopian correspondent informed that a complete shutdown is also being observed in both the districts.
He said that authorities have also ordered the closure of class work in all schools in Shopian district today.
He said heavy deployment of government forces has been made in both the districts to thaw protests.
Internet has also been snapped across the Valley to stop the spread of rumours.
Kashmir Post’s Anantnag correspondent informed that a strict shutdown is being observed in the district while traffic is also off the road.
He said that barbed wires have been laid on key entry and exit points in main town Anantnag. At Dak Bungalow Khanabal, a large posse of police and paramilitary have laid a nakka.
Government forces are also frisking and questioning commuters near the Boys Degree College Anantnag.
He said that at Ashajipora Bridge and Sarmal the government forces have laid concertina wires and are manning the streets to foil the Lal Chowk Challo call.
On call of JRL, a complete shutdown is also being observed in parts of north Kashmir.
Our Baramulla correspondent informed that all schools, colleges and business establishments are closed while as public transport is off the roads in Sopore, Baramulla, Pattan and Rafiabad areas of the district.
He said that additional deployment of police and CRPF has been put into force at many places in Sopore and Palhallan to quell any protests in the area.
From last few days, security has been heightened across the Valley especially in the areas through which PM Modi’s movement is expected.
The venue where Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate ring road projects in Srinagar has been virtually turned into the fortress with civilian traffic movement halted through the roads leading to the venue.
Meanwhile, Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani were put under house arrest today as restrictions were imposed in parts of the city following their call to march towards Lal Chowk.
JKLF chairman Yasin Malik continues to be under police detention.
The police reached the Hyderpora residence of Geelani and Naseem Bagh area residence of Mirwaiz and conveyed to them the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir authorities of placing them under house arrest as a precautionary measure, officials said.
“As the authoritarian rulers once again belie any claim to democracy by imposing #HouseArrests #Curfew #Restrictions #Barricades #Blockades closure of educational institutions on the visit of Indian PM to valley, I will peacefully march towards #LalChowk at 11 am,” Farooq tweeted this morning.
The separatists had given a call for a march to Lal Chowk, located in the heart of the city, to protest against the violence by forces in the valley.
During his Friday sermons, Farooq had said that the one month suspension of anti-militancy operations in the Valley was not enough.
He had urged the Centre to revoke draconian laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Public Safety Act besides initiating a dialogue process with Pakistan and the people of Kashmir, especially the separatist groups.
Lal Chowk has been barricaded and all entry points sealed to prevent people from gathering in the area, the officials said.
Tight security measures were placed in the entire city last night in the wake of the prime minister’s arrival here this afternoon.
Restrictions were imposed in downtown areas and vehicular movement, other than that of tourists, was bare minimum.
The roads wore a deserted look as people preferred to remain indoors.
A three-tier security ring has been been thrown around the city ahead of Modi’s visit and all roads leading to the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre were blocked for any vehicular movement,
According to the traffic police advisory, all roads leading to the venue would be closed till afternoon until the prime minister is in the city.
The river police wing of state police, the CRPF and the BSF have been deployed in the Dal lake while the Army has been asked to dominate the Zaberwan peak overlooking the venue where Modi would inaugurate a power project and a ring road around Srinagar.
Government forces on Saturday sealed the historic clock tower in city center Lal Chowk called Ghanta Ghar in local parlance to thwart a protest march called by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Valley.
JRL comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik has called for ‘Lal Chowk Chalo’ and asked people to carry placards reading “what Kashmiri people want” to convey a message to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his visit to the region.
Barricades manned by contingents of police and paramilitary personnel have been placed along all the roads, including lanes and by lanes, to thwart the proposed march.
PM Modi is scheduled to inaugurate a ring road project from Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the banks of famous Dal Lake today.
