Clashes erupt over US designation of Salahudin as ‘terrorist’
Clashes erupted in different parts of Kashmir, days after the United States government declared HM chief, Syed Salahudin, as a global terrorist. The US governments move has drawn widespread reaction from the separatists camp here.
On Friday Authorities had imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar as a precautionary measure against protest call given by separatist groups over the US’ decision to declare Salahuddin as a “global terrorist”.
The restrictions were imposed in five police stations areas of downtown (old city) of Srinagar, officials said. They said the curbs were in force in areas under the jurisdictions of police stations Nowhatta, M R Gunj, Rainawari, Khanyar and Safakadal.
The order to impose restrictions on the assembly of people under section 144 of the CrpC was issued by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident, officials said. The separatist groups in Kashmir and Pakistan Administered Kashmir based United Jihad Council (UJC) had called for protests after Friday prayers today against the US’ decision to declare Salahuddin as a global terrorist.
In a statement issued, the joint resistance leadership said that the “This unjustified move by the US government to appease Government of India and their (US) silence regarding the oppression and human rights situation in Kashmir, is not acceptable to the people of Kashmir who will strongly protest against it across the valley post Friday prayers”.
The statement that was issued jointly by chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference–Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq–and JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik said protests will also be held against the “illegal and arbitrary” arrests and detention of the separatist leaders, activists and youth and raid on homes across the Valley. The UJC, a conglomerate of over a dozen militant groups active in the valley, also called for protests after Friday prayers against the US government’s decision.
A group of youth assembled outside the Jamia Masjid in Sopore after Friday prayers and staged protest against the US action on Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin. Forces deployed in the area resorted to tear smoke shelling as soon as the protesters tried to march towards the main Bazar. However there were no reports of injuries being received,
Clashes went on between the protesters and government forces in Tehsil Bazar area of Anantnag town, soon after the Friday prayers as youth pelted stones on forces who retaliated with tear smoke shells triggered clashes.
Protests also erupted in Tral area in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. As soon as the prayers were over people came out from the main mosque in Tral and clashed with forces by hurling stones at their camp in uptown area. The protestors were heard changing slogans of “Moosa Moosa … Zakir Moosa” zindabad.
Authorities also continued to place Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house stopping him from heading towards Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of the city for the Friday prayers.
A posse of policemen stopped Mirwaiz from leaving his residence and informed him that he was under house arrest, a spokesman of the Hurriyat chairman said.
Mirwaiz was placed under house arrest on June 23 – the last Friday of holy month of Ramadhan. He said the Hurriyat leader was heading to Jamia Masjid for delivering a sermon ahead of the Friday prayers.
A police official said the step was taken as there was apprehension of law and order problems in view of the protest call given by the Hurriyat after Friday prayers.
KV Correspondent
