Srinagar, Feb 11 (UNI) Curfew-like restrictions have been imposed in the down town and Shehar-e-Khas (SeK) and parts of civil lines in Srinagar on Sunday following separatist strike call on the death anniversary of founder of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, who was hanged and later buried in Delhi’s Tihar jail in 1984.
Police said that Restrictions under Section 144 CrPC have been imposed in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of M R Gunj, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Safa Kadal and Khanyar in the downtown and SeK since morning as a precautionary measure to prevent any law and order problem.
Restrictions have also been imposed some areas under the jurisdiction of police station Kralkhud in the old city and Maisuma in civil lines.
However, the situation on the ground was entirely different as security forces and state police personnel were directing people to remain indoors as curfew has been imposed since early this morning.
Restrictions were also imposed on Friday on the fifth death anniversary of Afzal Guru, who was hanged and later buried in Delhi’s Tihar jail on February 9,2013 for his role in 2001 Parliament attack. However, restrictions were lifted yesterday to be imposed today again.
All gates of historic Jamia Masjid, where no Friday prayers could be offered for the last three weeks, have again been closed today. Large number of security forces and state police personnel have been deployed in the Jamia market and nearby areas to prevent anybody to enter the worship place, stronghold of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, who remained under house arrest.
Hundreds of police and security force personnel, wearing bullet proof jackets and holding automatic weapons , were seen patrolling the areas to strictly implement the restrictions.
The main Nallahmar road from Tarabal Nawa Kadal to Khanyar crossing has been closed for any traffic or pedestrian movement. Security forces have closed the main road in the downtown and SeK with barbed wire at Nawa Kadal, Rajouri Kadal, Kawdara and Khanyar. Similarly road blocks were erected by security forces at Nowhatta, Rangar stop and Gojwara.
Similar restrictions have also been imposed on roads around the Malkha graveyard. Large number of security forces have also been deployed at Rainawari, Nowpora and Bobdamb.
All roads leading to Maisuma, stronghold of JKLF, have been closed with barbed wire at Budshah Chowk, Haji Masjid, Gaw Kadal, Madina Chowk and Red Cross road. Additional security forces and state police personnel have also been deployed in the civil lines, including Residency road, Moulana Azad road, historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, Budshah Chowk and Jehangir Chowk to prevent any law and order problem.
Security forces also remained deployed at Kralkhud and other areas in old city to maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, hundreds of security forces and state police personnel had been deployed near the United Nations Military Observers for India and Pakistan (UNMOIP) at Sonawar to foil separatist plan to present a memorandum today. Security forces have put up nakas to prevent people from entering the area.
Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq and Mohammad Yaseen Malik, has called for strike today on the death anniversary of Bhat. The JRL has also announced to present memorandum to UNMOIP for return of bodies of Bhat and Guru, buried in Delhi’s Tihar jail.
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