Follow Us
Majjid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, December 16
With shock, anger and outrage over the killing of seven civilians by security forces in Pulwama gripping the Valley, the region on Sunday witnessed a complete shutdown to mourn the dead.
The normal life was affected across Kashmir due to the shutdown called by the joint resistance leadership (JRL) against the incident in which seven civilians, including two minors, were killed when security forces allegedly opened fire on the protesters after an encounter at Sirnoo village in Pulwama district on Saturday morning.
The JRL has urged people to march towards Army’s 15 Corps headquarters in the Badami Bagh area in Srinagar on Monday.
In Srinagar, while people stayed mostly indoors, shops, business establishments and fuel stations were shut and the public transport was off the roads. Most of the areas wore a deserted look.
To maintain the law and order situation and contain the possible protests, the authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions in the volatile old city area and Maisuma. Forces were deployment in the city to ensure peace.
In south Kashmir’s Pulwama, the authorities imposed strict restrictions.
“Restrictions have been imposed in the entire district and the situation is under control,” said Ghulam Mohammad Dar, Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama.
Reports of the shutdown were received from other districts of the Valley also.
The authorities suspended train services for security reasons. The mobile Internet services in Srinagar, besides Pulwama and Shopian districts, have also been suspended.
Ahead of proposed march of the separatists to the Army headquarters, JRL leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have been placed under house arrest, while Yasin Malik has gone underground to avoid arrest. The Army has asked the public not to pay heed to the protest march called by the JRL.
Munir Khan, Additional Director General Police, Law and Order, said the situation was under control everywhere.
Curbs in Srinagar today
In the wake of the proposed call for a march to Army Headquarters here on Monday, the authorities have ordered imposition of restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC within the territorial jurisdictions of Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, Safakadal, MR Gunj and Ram Munshibagh police stations of the district. There would also be partial restrictions within the territorial jurisdictions of Maisuma and Kralkhud police stations of the district, an official spokesman said. The restrictions have been imposed as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident, he added. TNS
Police foil Rasheed's march
The authorities on Sunday foiled a march of the Awami Ittehad Party, led by its leader Engineer Rasheed, towards the UN observer's office here over the Pulwama civilian killings. The protesters carrying banners, placards and black flags started the march from Rajbagh and proceeded towards Lal Chowk. However, a large contingent of the police stopped the procession near Zero Bridge. Engineer Rasheed and other party activists were detained and later lodged at the Rajbagh police station. Condemning the killings, Rasheed told the reporters that the world community should take "notice of massacres".
Geelani condemns incident
A day after the killing of seven civilians in Pulwama district, separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani on Sunday warned that they would "fight hard". Geelani condemned Saturday's killing in Pulwama district and described it as a "massacre". "Even the brutalities have a limit, beasts too get exhausted but the Indian atrocities, their unjust behaviour and the iron fist seems to have no end," Geelani said in a statement. "India claims to have the brave and disciplined Army of the world, but in reality they are cowards," he said.
1
2
3
7
9