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| Kashmir shuts for third consecutive day, restrictions continue in old city | | Government has distorted evidence by removing debris overnight: Grand Mufti | | Bashir Assad
Srinagar, June 27: Life across Valley remained suspended for third consecutive day today due to the strike called by Grand Mufti of Kashmir and supported by separatists to mourn the gutting off the 220 year old revered shrine of Peer Dastgeer Sahib in a devastating fire last Monday.
Though public transport in uptown was back on roads today but as life was completely out of gear in the old city due to severe restrictions put in place by the government. For the third day today curfew like situation prevailed in the volatile down town as the police and paramilitary CRPF sleuths have erected barbed wire on all entry points leading towards old city. On the other hand, in mates in Khanyar, Kralakhud, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Kawdara Chowk, Noorbagh bridge and Safakadal Chowk were not allowed to move out of their houses, sources said. As a preventive measure to maintain law and order, Srinagar district magistrate Baseer Ahmad Khan has ordered imposition of restrictions on movement of people and transport in six police station areas of the old city, officials said.
The police station areas where curfew-like restrictions have been imposed include Khanyar, Maharaj Gunj, Rainawari, Nowhatta, Safakadal and Kralkhud.
However, situation was under control and no untoward incident was reported from down town. Reports suggest that even critical patients were not allowed towards hospitals.
However, vehicular movement in the uptown area remained thin and markets opened partially.There was some movement of life in historical Lal Chowk today as vendors were selling fruits and vegetables for the first time since Monday and people including men and women were seen buying the essentials, even some vehicles carrying passengers left for Jammu as usual from Ghanta Ghar.
Public transport was back on track in Batamaloo transit station (Bus Stand) as there was free moment of traffic towards north Kashmir.
Meanwhile, tension gripped south Kashmir's Anantnag town today when scores of youth clashed with police.
Witnesses said that protesters assembled in old town this morning demanding release of youth arrested during past two days. A huge contingent of police resorted to baton charge to disperse them. However, youth retaliated with stones triggering clashes which were on for quite some time, however, after stiff resistance police chased off the agitating youth.
Meanwhile, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora towns in North Kashmir and Pulwama, Shopian, Tral, Pampore, Awantipora, Bijbehara and Kulgam towns in South Kashmir observed a shutdown to mourn the loss of Peer Dastegeer Sahib Shrine. Schools, colleges, offices, shops and other commercial establishments remained partially closed.
Meanwhile, Grand Mufti of Kashmir, Mufti Bashiruddin, has extended the strike call by two more days.
"We appeal people to observe complete shutdown on Thursday and Friday and make Khanyar chalo a success on Friday," Mufti told a news conference here.
He lashed out at the government for clearing the debris of the Hazrat Dastgeer (RA) Sahib shrine. "The government has destroyed the evidence by clearing the debris," he alleged.
The Grand Mufti and his Deputy today claimed that the destruction of Dastgeer Sahib shrine in the old city was an "extremely worst conspiracy" and accused the state government of distorting the evidence.
"The president of the state Muslim Personal Law Board, Grand Mufti Mohammad Bashiruddin, and other ulemas (clerics) have taken a serious notice that what has happened is a result of an extremely worst conspiracy," Nasir-ul-Islam, Deputy to Bashiruddin, told reporters. Islam accused the government of distorting the evidence and said this was a serious issue. He asked the government to come out with a statement identifying the culprits.
"The distortion of evidence has taken place (by washing the gutted shrine compound and clearance of debris overnight), it is a very serious issue for us, he said. "The Chief Minister has said they will reconstruct the shrine, we do not want any support from the Chief Minister. We have resources to build greater place than this one," Islam said.
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