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| Curfew in Valley, Lal Chowk sealed | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Oct 5: After a lull of few days, the Governor’s administration once again appeared to be on the tenterhooks as an apprehensive tension prevailed across the Valley a day ahead of separatist call of “Lal Chowk March”. Enhanced security measures had been put in place by the day and curfew imposed across entire Kashmir Valley to prevent the scheduled march to Srinagar City’s central square.
Separatist leaders, including JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik and other second rung leaders, were taken into preventive custody during a day-long swoop yesterday which continued till midnight last night, official sources said.
Chairman of Moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was placed under house arrest while head of the hardline faction Syed Ali Shah Geelani was admitted to SKIMS hospital at Soura after he complained of abdomen pain, the sources said.
Police and paramilitary forces attired in anti-riot gear were deployed in large numbers across the valley to strictly enforce the restrictions imposed by the administration.
A virtual siege has been thrown around the historic Lal Chowk, the venue for the rally called by separatist coordination committee, with barricades erected at all entry and exit points leading to it.
Police and paramilitary forces have also been deployed in interior localities and neighbourhood to prevent gathering of people.
A tight vigil was being maintained at all known trouble spots in the city with the new anti-riot equipment including tear smoke shells, batons and rubber bullets meant to scare the protesters if they did manage to gather at any place.
Ambulances have been kept on the standby at a number of places to help people requiring medical attention and ferry emergency patients to hospitals.
"All measures have been taken to ensure that the common man does not suffer on account of restrictions," Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda said.
A private television channel -- Sen TV -- was also banned for allegedly inciting people to disturb public peace and tranquility.
"Despite repeated advice to the channel to conform to the provision of the Act and adhere to the written undertaking given by it, the channel continued to put out objectionable material aiming at disturbing the public peace and order," an official spokesperson said.
While the spokesperson maintained that the situation was peaceful across the valley, a minor incident of stone-pelting took place in Gojwara area in downtown Srinagar. |
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