Burhan aide buried in native village; curfew imposed in Valley

SRINAGAR: The authorities in Kashmir imposed curfew in parts of Srinagar and Pulwama district on Sunday to maintain law and order and prevent further protests over the killing of top Hizbul Mujahideen militant Sabzar Ahmad Bhat, who was buried today in his native Tral village.

A view of the deserted Lal Chowk area in Srinagar on Sunday. Tribune photo: Amin War

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 28

The authorities in Kashmir imposed curfew in parts of Srinagar and Pulwama district on Sunday to maintain law and order and prevent further protests over the killing of top Hizbul Mujahideen militant Sabzar Ahmad Bhat, who was buried today in his native Tral village.

Spontaneous and widespread protests were witnessed in Kashmir on Saturday afternoon as the news of the killing of Sabzar, a close aide of slain militant Burhan Wani, broke out, which prompted authorities to snap mobile internet and prepaid mobile telephone services to prevent “spread of rumours” and to contain the “fallout”.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

In Srinagar curfew has been imposed in eight police station areas on the instructions of the district magistrate. The areas where curfew has been imposed include, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, MR Gunj, Rainawari, Maisuma, Kralkhud and Batamaloo.

The police and paramilitary forces, deployed in strength, have erected barricades and put concertina wires at important cross sections in the areas notified and the civilians are not being allowed to move out, witnesses said.

Besides shops and business establishments in other parts of the city are closed as the separatist-sponsored two day shutdown began today.

The police today morning also arrested JKLF chairman Yasin Malik from his Maisuma residence and shifted him to Srinagar jail, as on Saturday he had reached Tral town to pay “tributes” to the slain militants.

Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were been put under house detention by the authorities on Saturday evening.

The authorities have also imposed strict restrictions in major towns in Pulwama district, including the Tral town, where the funeral of Sabzar was slated today morning, in which thousands of people participated, witnesses said.

Restrictions under Section 144 have been also imposed in north Kashmir towns of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipore even as minor stone-pelting and clashes were witnessed at Palhalan village today. Police resorted to tear gas shelling to restore order.

Read: Burhan’s close aide killed in encounter

School dropout Sabzar was Burhan’s ‘shadow’

Kashmir is in perpetual trouble

6 Uri infiltrators shot dead