SRINAGAR, Nov 23: Restrictions have been imposed in parts of uptown capital Srinagar to prevent violence after Friday prayers in the Muslim-majority region.
Police and paramilitaries have been deployed in strength and barricades have been erected to prevent vehicle movement in at least five police station areas – Shergari, Shaheedganj, Kralkhud, Maisuma and Kothibagh.
Shops, schools, banks and other business establishments also are closed in these areas.
Authorities are cautious about a mourning procession by Shia muslims which is taken out from these places, two days before the Ashura or 10th day of Islamic month Muharram marking the martyrdom of Imam Hussain – the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
In the past no such restrictions were put in place to prevent this march, only that police would fire teargas shells and cane charge mourners to stop them from moving along the traditional route through the civil lines area of the city.
However, protests are expected after a call by hardline separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani against the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza which killed more than 150 Palestinians including women and children.
Authorities fear protest marches could snowball into major anti-India demonstrations.
Anti-Israel and US sentiment runs deep in this Muslim-majority region, which has seen more than two decades of violence after simmering discontent against New Delhi turned into a full-blown rebellion.
Although a ceasefire brokered by Egypt between Israel and Hamas group, which rules Gaza, has put a halt to the violence there since late on Wednesday, minor protests continued in Kashmir even on Thursday.
