Shopian Chaloo foiled
Geelani, Mirwaiz not allowed to move beyond their homes
All the roads leading to Shopian closed. Photo/Muneeb Ul Islam
Srinagar, Apr 04: Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were today barred from moving towards Shopian where they had planned to offer condolences to the bereaved families.
A Hurriyat-G spokesman said that a posse of policemen deployed outside Geelani’s residence in Hyderpora prevented him from coming out. Geelani was put under-house arrest on Sunday.
Geelani, according to a Hurriyat-G press release, condemned the ruling regime for “forcibly disallowing the peaceful march to Shopian”.
“Repeated curbs, restrictions, arrests and detention of resistance leadership and activists is a classic case of colonial attitude,” said Geelani.
He said the government is not allowing them (Hurriyat leaders) to meet or hold any program. “Our voice is being suppressed. Whenever we plan any program, we are put behind bars. The rights of the people of J&K are muzzled and violated,” he said.
Hurriyat-M chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also detained after he tried to defy house-arrest and march to Shopian.
Mirwaiz, who was also put under house-arrest on Sunday, tried to defy the restrictions and march towards Shopian, a police official said.
He said Mirwaiz came out of his residence and addressed supporters who had gathered there. Mirwaiz then tried to march to Shopian but was detained and taken to Nigeen police station, the official said.
Separatists Geelani, Mirwaiz and JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik had called for a march to Shopian to express solidarity with the families who lost loved ones in three encounters between militants and government forces on Sunday.
Malik was arrested on Sunday and is lodged in Central jail here.
Restrictions is parts of Kashmir
Srinagar, Apr 04: Restrictions continued in parts of Kashmir for the third day today following protests over killings in Sunday’s encounters, even as a shutdown was also observed here and in several other areas of the Valley.
The restriction on movement of people was put in place in the wake of agitations and a strike call by separatists after the Sunday’s encounters in Sophian and Anantnag districts.
“Restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC remained in place for the third consecutive day in Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian districts and parts of Anantnag as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order,” a police official said.
He said the restrictions were also in force in Khanyar, Maharajgunj, Nowhatta, Rainawari and Safakadal, while partially in Maisuma and Kralkhud police station areas of Srinagar.
“The curbs continue as a precautionary measure to prevent protests against the killing of 13 militants in three encounters on Sunday and five civilians in the aftermath of those encounters,” the official said.
Schools, colleges and other educational institutions also remained closed for the third day as authorities decided to suspend classes. Examinations to be held today by universities in the Valley were also postponed.
Meanwhile, a spontaneous shutdown was observed in many districts of the valley, including in Srinagar with shops, petrol pumps and other business establishments remaining closed and public transport off the roads even as some auto-rickshaws and cabs and private vehicles were plying I uptown areas of the city.
Though there was no shutdown call for today, separatists however had asked the people to march to Shopian to express solidarity with the families who lost their loved ones in the three encounters between militants and government forces on Sunday.
Mobile internet services remained suspended in four south Kashmir districts as well as in Ganderbal district in central Kashmir.
In a statement, police spokesman said “the general law and order situation in the valley remained by and large peaceful, today.”
However, he said some “minor” stone-pelting incidents were reported from Shopian area in which Constable Mohammad Amin was injured. He was shifted to hospital for treatment and is stated to be stable.
