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| No relaxation in curfew in Kashmir for second day Restrictions likely to continue on Feb 11 | | No relaxation in curfew in Kashmir for second day Restrictions likely to continue on Feb 11 | | Mustansir
Srinagar, Feb 10 : Curfew remained in force for the second consecutive day in valley after the hanging of 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru at Tihar Jail in Delhi.
Severe restrictions were put in place by the authorities on the movement of people across the valley and restrictions are likely to continue till February11 which is also the death anniversary of the founder of J&K Liberation Front Maqbool Bhat who was also hanged in Tihar Jail in 1983. However, the situation all across the valley remained tense for the second day but law and order agencies claim that the situation was well in control.
Meanwhile people defied the restrictions at many places imposed under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code and tried to take out protest demonstrations against Guru's hanging in Tihar jail and demanding body of the deceased to be handed over to his family members for last rituals.
Reports about protesters defying curfew at Bugam in Kulgam district in South Kashmir and Rafiabad in North Kashmir's Baramullah district and protesters engaging the security agencies in pitched battles at few other places were confirmed by the police authorities. However, the Police officials said that the situation was tense but under control.
A senior Police Official in South Kashmir told Early Times that the area remained quite peaceful though the restriction under Section 144 remained strictly in place. He however, said a group of youth took to streets at Bugam village in Kulgam district.
DIG South Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told Early Times that situation in south Kashmir remained peaceful. "So for no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in South Kashmir. Barring Bugam village in Kulgam district where about one hundred people tried to take out protest dilly dallying on holding the Local Bodies polls which should have been held before expiry of last elected bodies (February 2010)." He added that the National-Conference-Congress coalition "in fact does not want to share power."
Dr. Jitendra Singh, spokesman of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) also shared views of PDP saying, "The coalition government has failed to deliver on any ground even after completion of more than four years. They know local bodies elections at this point in time will expose their political position and alienation with masses." Hence he feels that government "might keep delaying holding of Municipal elections."
Harshdev Singh, president of Panthers Party notes, "As per rules the local bodies elections should have been held before February 2010 (before expiry of then bodies). But Government is delaying it on one pretext or other." He added, "It is obvious that Government has lost ground both in Jammu region and Kashmir valley hence it is avoiding the municipal polls which will expose its position."
Though all the parties have started their election campaign by organizing contact meetings with public all across yet opposition feels that government would not hold local bodies polls this year.
According to official sources the notification of election schedule was to be announced by 28th April so that elections could start by ending May. But even these sources express skepticism about conduct of local bodies polls "as it may clash with tourist season in summer and annual Amarnath pilgrimage that starts from June 25." But after more than six months of completion of tourist session and Amarnath Yatra, government still silent on announcing the local bodies elections. |
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