Separatists’ march to Army HQ foiled

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 17

The J&K Police on Monday foiled the separatists’ march towards the Army’s 15 Corps Headquarters in the Badami Bagh cantonment in the summer capital.

While the authorities had imposed restrictions in many parts of Srinagar, including the area around the 15 Corps Headquarters, all the roads leading to the Badami Bagh cantonment were blocked by the forces to prevent any protest march. The Army on Sunday had appealed to people to stay away from the march.

“Restrictions were imposed as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident,” an official said. “The situation remained peaceful baring a few minor incidents.”

The joint resistance leadership of the separatists had called a three-day shutdown till December 17 and a protest march to the Badami Bagh cantonment against the killing of seven civilians in Pulwama, following a gunfight that left three militants and a soldier dead.

On Monday, two key separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik were detained and taken into preventive custody by the police when they tried to defy the restrictions and march towards the Army Headquarters.

Malik, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman, tried to march towards the Badami Bagh cantonment along with his supporters, which included women, but was detained near Lal Chowk. Brief clashes erupted after Malik was taken into custody, eyewitnesses said.

Meanwhile, Mirwaiz was detained when he came out of his Nigeen residence and tried to take part in the march.

Kashmir has been tense since Saturday after civilians were killed allegedly in the forces’ firing.

Day 3: Net restored, trains suspended 

• Shops, business establishments and fuel stations remained shut across the Valley for the third day in a row on Monday
• Public transport remained off the roads
• Train services between Banihal and Baramulla remained suspended
• However, the mobile Internet services were restored in Srinagar and south Kashmir on Monday evening