Curbs in city to thwart protests

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 20

The district authorities today imposed restrictions and sealed off roads in dozens of neighbourhoods in the city’s downtown area to thwart protests called by separatists over braid-chopping incidents.

The restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC were imposed in dozens of neighbourhoods falling under the jurisdiction of seven police stations.

A government spokesman said the restrictions were imposed under the Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, MR Gunj and Safakadal police stations. Partial curbs were imposed in areas falling under the Kralkhud and Maisuma police stations.

The spokesman said the restrictions, which prohibited the gathering of civilians, were a “precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident.”

As part of the restrictions, heavy police and paramilitary deployments were made and roads were cordoned off with rolls of concertina wires.

Jamia Masjid, the largest mosque of the region, which is located in Nowhatta, was also sealed off and no midday weekly congregation prayers were held there.

It is for the fourth consecutive week that neighbourhoods of downtown had been placed under restrictions. A police official said the restrictions would be imposed in the city’s downtown area whenever separatists call for protests.

The latest call for protests was jointly made by separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik. The trio had urged the residents to protest against the continuing incidents of braid-chopping.

The separatists had said the incidents were “a direct attack on our dignity and no Kashmiri will tolerate these anymore.”