KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Authorities on Wednesday imposed strict curfew in South Kashmir districts and in some parts of Srinagar to thwart Kulgam ‘chalo’ march called by united resistance leadership.
Police arrested Hurriyat Conference (g) chairperson Syed Ali Geelani outside his residence at Hyderpora when he tried to leave for Kulgam. Geelani was shifted to Humhama police station.
Hours after arrest, Hurriyat Conference (m) chairperson Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was arrested while he was leaving for Kulgam.
“A heavy contingent of Police arrived at his residence and took him in custody,” a spokesperson of Mirwaiz said.
Kashmir observed a complete shutdown with people staying back in homes.
A police official told KNS that curfew was re-imposed in parts of Srinagar where protests broke out on Tuesday when youth defied relaxation in curfew and shutdown, while strict curfew continued in South Kashmir to prevent march.
He said curfew was imposed in Kulgam, Islamabad districts and in old city.
Police and CRPF personnel were deployed on roads to foil the march. Concertina wires were placed at the entry points of Kulgam district to stop protesters from reaching to the venue, witnesses said.
No major protest or clashes was reported during the day, police said.
The shutdown was completely observed by the people. Schools, despite summer vacation having ended and government asking their reopening, have not been resumed. Thin attendance of government employees in witnessed in some offices in the Srinagar city.
The separatist leadership had called for Kulgam ‘chalo’ to express solidarity and pay tributes to the civilians who were killed by forces during the past 19 days in the on-going protests in Kashmir which started after popular militant commander, Burhan Wani, who was killed in a gunfight in Bemdoora village of Kokernag in South Kashmir’s Islamabad district on July 8.
Mobile telephony in post-paid SIMS of private cellular companies which was clamped down since July 9 was restored by the authorities on Tuesday night. The ban on prepaid phone services, however, continues in the Valley.
“Decision on restoration of mobile internet and pre-paid SIMs is yet to be taken by the government,” the police official said.
For the last 20 days, only post-paid mobile phones provided by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) worked in the Valley.
