Kashmir shuts on Hurriyat call, march to Eidgah foiled

ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 21

The authorities in Kashmir on Tuesday foiled the proposed march by the separatists to the Eidgah ground in Srinagar by imposing restrictions in old city areas and also keeping the “martyrs’ graveyard” out of bounds for the visitors.

The authorities also put moderate Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest at his Nigeen residence here as the faction led by him had called for a shutdown and Eidgah march on Tuesday to commemorate the death anniversaries of two assassinated 

separatist leaders — Moulvi Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone.

Condemning the government move to impose restrictions and house detention of Mirwaiz, the Hurriyat, in a statement, said it was not the first time that peaceful activities had been barred by the authorities. The Hurriyat termed the move “undemocratic, immoral and a political vendetta” by the government.

Fearing a law and order problem, the authorities imposed restrictions in the old city. Concertina wires were laid and a large number of police and CRPF men were deployed around the Eidgah ground and other parts of the old city to foil the separatist march, while a shutdown was observed in Srinagar and 

other parts of the Valley which affected normal life.

Mirwaiz Umar’s father Moulvi Mohammad Farooq was killed by unidentified gunmen after they barged into his Nigeen residence on May 21, 1990. On the same day, his funeral procession was fired upon by CRPF men at Hawal in Srinagar, in which more than 60 civilians were killed.

Moderate separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone was killed on May 21, 2002, by unidentified assailants at a rally to mark the death anniversary of Moulvi Farooq at Eidgah. Lone is the father of separatist leader Bilal Lone and separatist leader-turned-mainstream politician Sajjad Lone. 

Moulvi Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone are buried at Eidgah in “martyrs’ graveyard”. 

Parts of old city sealed

• The Hurriyat Conference had called for a shutdown and Eidgah march on Tuesday to commemorate the death anniversaries of two assassinated separatist leaders — Moulvi Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone
• Fearing a law and order problem, a large number of police and CRPF men were deployed around the Eidgah ground and other parts of the old city