Srinagar, Mar 08: The authorities on Friday imposed restrictions in parts of the city here in view of a strike called by separatists against slapping of the Public Safety Act (PSA) on JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik and ban on Jaamat-e-Islami (JeI).
Restrictions were imposed in six police station areas of Srinagar. Officials said the curbs under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) were imposed in Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, MR Gunj, Safakadal and Maisuma police station areas of the city.
They said the restrictions were imposed as a “precautionary measure to maintain law and order and to avoid any untoward incident” in view of the strike called by separatists.
The separatists — under the banner of the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) — Thursday called for a strike on Friday against booking of the JKLF chairman and others under the PSA, the crackdown on separatists, ban on JeI and “attempts to tinker with hereditary state subject law under the pretext of 35-A and intimidating raids of the NIA against Kashmiris”.
“Arbitrary arrest and detention of senior resistance leader and chairman JKLF and many others under the draconian PSA and shifting of Malik to Kot Balwal jail in Jammu is the most condemnable act.
“This spree of arrests, ban on JeI and attempts to tinker with hereditary state subject law under the pretext of 35-A and intimidating NIA raids on Kashmiris deserves our stiff protest and resistance and people of Kashmir, besides holding peaceful protests after Friday prayers, will also observe a complete shutdown tomorrow on 8th March 2019,” the JRL said in a statement.
The JRL comprises of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Malik.
Shops, fuel stations and other business establishments remained shut in the city, but roadside vendors went about their business as usual in some parts of the uptown city. Though majority public transport was off the roads, few private cars, cabs and auto-rickshaws were seen plying in some areas of the city.
Similar reports of shutdown were received from other district headquarters of the Valley.
The authorities have put Hurriyat-M chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house-arrest, while Hurriyat-G chairman Syed Ali Geelani continues to remain under house detention.
Meanwhile owing to the restrictions, the weekly congregational prayers at the Srinagar’s Jama Masjid were also barred for the second consecutive Friday.
“For the 2nd consecutive week mandatory Friday Prayers barred at #JamaMasjid Srinagar by the ruling regime. Restrictions Imposed in #ShareKhaas, People caged in homes, leadership either under #HouseArrest or jailed under PSA,” said Mirwaiz on Twitter.
