Lal Chowk ‘garrisoned’ in response to JRL’s call
Mirwaiz, Malik detained
Srinagar: In view of sit-in march called by Joint resistance Leadership (JRL) against Kulgam civilian killings, the authorities on Tuesday imposed curbs in Lal Chowk and Old city areas here to foil the proposed march.
The commercial hub, Lal Chowk was sealed by the authorities since the wee hours of the morning to thwart the possible protest march towards the area, thus foiling the march called by JRL comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik. The trio had appealed people to observe sit-in protest at Lal Chowk against the civilian killings in Kulgam that took place on Sunday.
Earlier, seven civilians were killed after an explosive shell went off at a gunfight site in Laroo village of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district after the encounter between militants and forces ended that left three Jaish-e-Muhammad militants dead.
The roads in Lal Chowk were sealed by the authorities since the wee hours while police and paramilitary troopers were deployed in the business hub in large number who had erected concertina wires on the roads and were seen preventing people from heading towards GantaGhar (clock tower) here.
The roads in commercial hub area here wore a deserted look throughout the day as nobody except media persons were being allowed to move towards GantaGhar here.
In view of the restrictions today, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) traffic police Srinagar city on Monday evening issued an advisory, asking commuters to use an alternate route as “the stretch of road from Amira Kadal to Regal Chowk will be blocked for traffic”.
The district administration Srinagar had also imposed restrictions in Srinagar areas falling under the jurisdiction of Shaheed Gunj, Maharaj Gunj, Khanyar, Nowhatta and Rainawari police station while as partial restrictions were imposed in Kral Khud and Maisuma areas.
Witnesses said that a huge contingent of police and paramilitary troopers were deployed in the restriction bound areas since the wee hours of this morning.
Geelani barred from leading protest
Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelaniwa on Tuesday disallowed to lead a protest march towards Lal Chowk against the civilian killings in Kulgam.
Geelani as per a statement tried to march towards Lal chowk but a huge contingent of police and paramilitary troopers who were deployed around his house didn’t allow him to come out of his residence-cum-office at Hyderpora.
Mirwaiz detained
Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was detained by the police after he tried to march towards Lal Chowk.
Mirwaiz defied the house detention and tried to march towards Lal Chowk to hold sit-in protest called by JRL against Kulgam killings.
Hurriyat (M) spokesman said that Mirwaiz while marching towards Lal Chowk along with hundreds of supporters was stopped by police and was arrested and lodged in police station Nigeen.
Later, Mirwaiz in a tweet informed that he was placed under house detention again after he was detained while he defied the detention and tried to march towards Lal Chowk.
Malik also held
JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik was also detained in the wee hours of the morning from Koker Bazar area from where he attempted to take a protest march.
Malik had gone into hiding two days back to lead a protest march today against Kulgam killings. In the wee hours today, he appeared in a local mosque in Koker Bazar area during morning prayers and was detained when he tried to take out a protest march after morning prayers.
National Conference protest
National Conference (NC) led by its General Secretary and MLA Khanyar, Ali Muhammad Sagar carried out a protest rally from Nawa-e-Subh headquarters today to Raj Bhavan Srinagar to condemnthe civilian killings in Kulgam that took place on Sunday.
Senior party leaders including NC provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, Mustafa Kamal, Akbar Lone, SakeenaItoo and others were also present in the rally.
The protesters amid slogans against the killings tried to march towards the Raj Bhawan but police intercepted them on way at Radio Kashmir and detained scores of party activists and workers.
The party condemned the Kulgam incident and demanded an immediate end to the killings in Kashmir.
KCC&I protest foiled
Police on Tuesday foiled the protest marches of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) against the Kulgam killings, a spokesman said here.
KCCI Secretary General, Farooq Amin as per the statement issued here said the KCCI members were prevented from proceeding towards Lal Chowk.
“Despite strict restrictions, a large number of members of the Chamber participated in the protest march. The protest was led by Senior Vice President, Nasir Hamid Khan,” he said. The members, however, held their sit-in at Regal Chowk.
KTMF protest
Kashmir Traders and Manufacturing Federation (KTMF) headed by Muhammad Yasin Khan staged a sit in protest at Regal Chowk here against Kulgam killings on Sunday.
Khan along with scores of KTMF members held a sit in at Regal Chowk and chanted slogans in favour of freedom.
They said that the civilian killings in Kashmir are going unabated and these killings must be stopped immediately.
Rather led KTMF offer absentia prayers
Another faction of KTMF headed by Bashir Ahmad Rather offered funeral prayers in absentia for the slain civilians who were killed in Kulgam blast on Sunday.
The trade body also staged a protest against the civilian killings outside Srinagar’s Press Enclave here.
Chanting slogans, the traders questioned how long the civilian killings will continue in Kashmir.
Bar Association Anantnag
Bar Association Anantnag staged a protest at the main town Anantnag against the civilian killings in Kulgam.
Condemning the killings, the lawyers pitched for the initiation of dialogue process for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
KV News
