Curfew-like restrictions in SeK, downtown in Srinagar

Srinagar, Apr 3: Curfew-like restrictions remained imposed for the second successive day on Tuesday in the Shehar-e-Khas (SeK), downtown and parts of old city and civil lines in Srinagar as precautionary measure to prevent any law and order problem.

The restrictions remained imposed as precautionary measure in view of separatists extending the strike till Tuesday in protest against killing of four civilians in security force action and 13 militants in three separate encounters in south Kashmir on Sunday. Three Army jawans were martyred in the encounters. Over 50 civilians were also injured in the clashes near the encounter sites.
The main gates of historic Jamia Masjid, stronghold of chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC), Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, remained closed to foil any demonstration.
Police said restrictions under section 144 CrPC remained imposed in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of police station M R Gunj, Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, Khanyar and Rainwari in the downtown and SeK. Restrictions also remained imposed in parts of areas under police station of Maisuma in civil lines and Kralkhud in old city.
However, the situation on the ground was entirely different as security forces and state police personnel deployed in the downtown and SeK were directing people to remain indoors. The entire Nallahmar road, which otherwise remains busy, remained closed for traffic or pedestrian movement for the second day on Tuesday. Security forces have closed the road with barbed wire and by parking bullet proof vehicles in the middle at different places, including Tarabal, Nawa Kadal, Kawdara, Rajouri Kadal, Ali Kadal and Khanyar.
People in these areas alleged that they were not being allowed to move out of their houses by the security forces deployed in the area. “The milkmen and vegetable sellers could not come from outskirts due to restrictions for the second successive day, forcing the residents in these areas to take tea without milk or have traditional ‘Kehwa’. The local bread makers also could not open their shops,” Yousin Saleem, a resident of Nawa Kadal told UNI.
The road to S K Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) from Safa Kadal and Eidgah was open though medical staff and patients only were being allowed to move.
All roads leading to Jamia Masjid were closed at Rangar stop, Nowhatta and Hawal to prevent people from assembling and organise protests at worship place. All main gates of the Masjid remained closed since Monday morning. Similar restrictions had been imposed in other areas of down town and SeK.
Roads leading to Maisuma, stronghold of JKLF, have also been closed and hundreds of security forces personnel deployed in the area to strictly implement restrictions.
Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, on Monday extended the strike till Tuesday and called for ‘Shopain challo’ on Wednesday. UNI