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| Curfew carpets 10 Valley districts, one killed | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Aug 24
Kashmir Valley, particularly the Summer Capital City of Srinagar, is all headed for a violent showdown Monday as separatists supported by other organizations retained adamant to their demonstration at Lal Chowk even as the authorities clamped curfew early this morning and declared unequivocally that the attempt for the rally shall be thwarted.
After a massive ‘pro-Azadi’ demonstration in Idgah, the separatists have called for a similar show at the Lal Chowk on Monday. While the Government of India too shot off a statement today that any secession or alteration of borders were out of question, the state administration clamped curfew in the wee hours of this morning. Caring little for the curfew and other restrictions, the separatists have declared that their Lal Chowk march stands at any cost.
All ten districts of Kashmir Valley came under curfew since early this morning but still thousands of people defied restrictions attracting Police action. One person was killed and another injured when security forces opened fire at a group of people who were attempting to defy the curfew in Srinagar City. Police said Ghulam Qadir Hajjam was killed when a stray bullet hit him during the protest while his son received injuries. The incident took place in the Dalgate area Sunday evening when the protesters tried to storm the battalion headquarters of paramilitary forces, police said.
After imposition of indefinite curfew, several separatist leaders were placed under house arrest and activists arrested. Ayaz Akbar, spokesman of the hardline Hurriyat group led by Syed Ali Geelani, was among the about two dozen separatist activists detained by the police in the morning.
Separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Shabir Ahmad Shah and Muhammad Yasin Malik have, meanwhile, been placed under house arrest, official sources said. Unlike such restrictions in the past, no visitors would be allowed to their houses, the sources added.
Curfew was clamped in all 10 districts of the Valley in the morning. Additional police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were moved in late Saturday and all major cities and towns have been sealed off, officials said.
In the state's summer capital Srinagar, CRPF and police contingents were first deployed in the old city area, where agitating mobs have destroyed paramilitary pickets and bunkers in the last 10 days.
"We have sufficient strength of CRPF to assist the local police, but we are bringing in additional reinforcements," an official said.
After a massive show of strength Friday in which tens of thousands of Kashmiris marched to the Eidgah lawns here to offer prayers, separatist leaders had called for a march to the city centre Lal Chowk Monday.
Speaking to some media persons on phone from his Nigeen residence, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said the march to Lal Chowk would be undertaken by the people despite curfew restrictions.
A few cameramen working for local news channels alleged they were roughed up by CRPF jawans in Rambagh area here.
According to reports reaching here from south Kashmir's Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama districts, the administration has given strict instructions to ensure that violators of the prohibitory orders are dealt with strictly.
Curfew was also clamped in the central district of Badgam, and Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara and Bandipora districts in the north.
Barring a three-day spell of normalcy earlier this week, life remained out of gear in the Valley for the last fortnight with the protests and violence spearheaded by the separatists.
Meanwhile, angry over government's decision to impose curfew in the Kashmir valley, Hurriyat Conference today said that it will go ahead with tomorrow's march to Lal Chowk defying the ban orders.
"As of now, we have decided to go ahead with tomorrow's march to Lal Chowk," Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said.
He said there was no reason for the government to impose curfew when all previous processions in the valley were peaceful.
"This is uncalled for. Despite having a peaceful march, people as well as leaders are being picked up," the Mirwaiz said, adding he was trying to establish contact with other leaders of the Coordination Committee, recently formed conglomerate of separatist groups spearheading the agitation in the Valley.
"We have not had a violent agitation. (I) Wonder why this action has been taken," he said.
The Mirwaiz made it clear that his party members were ready to defy the curfew and carry out the march tomorrow to protest Centre's "failure" to resolve the Kashmir issue and to press for withdrawal of laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and Disturbed Area Act in the state. |
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