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| | Separatists continue under house arrest | | Spontaneous strike, undeclared curfew on second day | | SRINAGAR, Jun 27: Normal life in most parts of Kashmir remained paralysed on the second straight day on account of the spontaneous strike and undeclared curfew over the mysterious fire that destroyed the shrine of Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) at Khanyar here.
Senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Javid Ahmad continued to be under house arrest
While there was no call for strike from any quarter, shops and business establishments in the entire summer capital remained closed. Public transport, including buses, mini-buses and Sumos, was off the roads, and auto rickshaws too were available in limited numbers.
The routine business in the educational institutions, government offices and banks remained adversely affected. While majority preferred to stay home, expecting disturbance, the unavailability of public transport further restricted people to homes.
The old city, however, saw no let off in the undeclared curfew imposed by the state. In fact, if the residents are to be believed, the restrictions were intensified.
“There were protests last evening, so this morning they did not even allow us to open the doors,” revealed Niyaz Ahmad, a resident of Nowhatta.
All areas falling in the jurisdiction of Khanyar, Nowhatta, M R Gunj, Rainawari, Safa Kadal and Kralkhud Police stations, were sealed off. And a heavy presence of police and CRPF men, in riot gear, was maintained on every nook and corner of the old city.
The forces have erected multiple barricades on all routes approaching the old city, especially at Hawal, Munawarabad, Nigeen and Qamarwari. The civilian movement into the areas was strictly barred, and anyone allowed to move was asked for identity card at every step.
The residents speaking with Kashmir Times said the forces’ gypsies were doing rounds in the morning, ordering them to stay indoors.
“They made the announcement that anyone seen outside will be acted against,” Imran Qazi of Gojwara said.
The restrictions apparently worsened the situation as it made movement impossible on all the important routes.
“I as usual left for office at 9:30 AM, but there was no traffic on the roads. I tried to hire an auto, but the driver refused to take me to Lal Chowk as all roads are blocked. Then I dropped the idea of going to the office,” a government employ from Lal Bazar, Mushtaq Ahmad, said.
Many traveling in their own vehicles had to take the longer routes to reach their destination.
“I had to traverse Fore Shore road, Boulevard and Gupkar road to reach Lal Chowk as the entire city is under ‘siege’,” a bank employ from Dargah Hazratbal, working at Karan Nagar, said.
Khanyar area, however, was made accessible to press for the first time since the inferno.
Among the civil lines areas, deployment of forces was seen at Maisuma and its adjoining areas. However, the civilian movement was not restricted.
Clashes at isolated places
The brief incidents of stone pelting were reported from Anantnag in South Kashmir, Baramulla in North and Maisuma here.
Reports said that the youth took to streets and started pelting stones at the CRPF and police men, who retaliated with baton charge. The situation was brought under control before long, reports said.
No causalities were reported.
Partial strike in South/North Kashmir
Partial strike was also observed in North and South Kashmir areas.
The reports from Pampore, Shopian, Baramulla and Anantnag said the traffic was partially available in the areas while shops and markets were also unable to carry out the routine business. |
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