SRINAGAR: Curfew like restrictions have been enforced in parts of Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir valley to prevent violent protests after Friday prayers.
Police and paramilitaries in riot gear have been deployed in strength and rolls of concertina wire block entry to main roads and streets.
The hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front have asked people to observe a shutdown and stage protests against the hanging and of Afzal Guru.
Authorities have imposed section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code – banning assembly of four or more people – in Rainawari, Khanyar Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, S.R. Gunj, Zadibal, Soura, Maisuma, Kralkhud, Shaheed Gunj and Batmaloo areas.
Similar restrictions have been clamped in northern towns of Sopore, Baramulla and Bandipora and no pedestrian or vehicular movement is being allowed in the areas.
Authorities have often been using such restrictions to impose an “undeclared” curfew in the valley.
Today is the third consecutive day of strike in the valley as the Hurriyat issued a protest programme asking people to continue their protests till Guru’s body is returned for burial in the valley.
But Fridays are significant in the Muslim-majority valley as worshippers offer their afternoon prayers in large congregations.
Devotees say they were also barred from visiting the Dastgeer Sahab shrine in Khanyar area of downtown city to pay obeisance on the occasion of Urs of saint Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Geelani. Only those residing in nearby areas were allowed.
Authorities had also announced that restrictions will be imposed in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. However a resident of Humhama area said police vans fitted with public address systems made rounds last night and asked people to stay indoors as a curfew had been declared.
The Budgam district in central Kashmir has a significant population of Shia Muslims and authorities fear violent protests in the area over the recent killings of Shiites in Pakistan.
Sectarian clashes are rare in the valley, where the majority are Sunni Muslims.
What the authorities fear is a repeat of the summer uprising in 2010 during which at least 111 people, mostly young men, were killed in police or paramilitary firing.
Pertinently, the uprising erupted on June 11, 2010 – a Friday. A teenager had died after he was hit by a tearsmoke shell lobbed by the police during a usual protest.
The Kashmir University has postponed all examinations scheduled for Friday. An official said new dates would be announced later.
