Same Kashmir Same Story: Strike, restrictions continue

Same Kashmir Same Story: Strike, restrictions continue

Srinagar, July 28:

Amid fresh protests at few places, Kashmir valley was again paralyzed today in wake of the strict restrictions and a general strike call by separatists.

After a day of normalcy yesterday, life across the valley was thrown out of gear as authorities clamped tough restrictions under section 144 in most parts of the old Srinagar. The measures, official said, were taken to prevent any deterioration of the law and order in wake of the separatist call for sit-in protests.

Srinagar city wore a deserted look as all shops remained closed. Educational institutes, business establishments, private offices, banks, petrol pumps and financial institutes remained closed while traffic remained off the roads.

Security forces had also erected barricades in sensitive areas including Nowhatta, Gojwara, Rajouri Kadal, Saraf Kadal, Kawdara, Safa Kadal, Nawab Bazar and other areas old city areas to prevent protests.

They said that since morning CRPF and police, equipped with riot gear and sophisticated weapons, maintained tight vigil and confined the residents indoors.

While there were no demos in old city, violent protests broke out in Rambagh, Natipora, Kansipora and Kralpora areas in civil lines of the Srinagar, the summer capital of the state.

Reports quoting eyewitnesses said that scores of people took to streets in Kanipora and Natipora areas in outskirts of the city to protest the arrest of a youth—Sajad Ahmad, by police last evening. The protesters accused police of arresting “innocent youth” on the false charges of stone pelting while demanded his immediate release.

In Rambagh, groups of youth appeared on road and resorted to stone pelting on security forces on charges to disperse the stone pelting youth. One person sustained minor injury, reports added.

Restrictions were imposed on the civilian movement in twin towns of Sopore and Baramulla in North Kashmir.

Hundreds of people took to streets in Palhalan and Azad Gunj area of the district and staged demonstrations against the alleged human rights violations. The protesters were later chased away. Meanwhile, Junior Doctors Association reacted sharply to the government action against few medicos for staging protests on July 24.

“The Junior Doctors Association (Government Medical College and Associated Hospitals) has taken a strong note of the highhandedness of the government against some doctors who participated in a peaceful silent sit-in on July 24 to express solidarity with families of recently killed innocent youth and Human Rights violations,” a spokesperson said. “This protest should have served as a model for peaceful protests in civilized and democratic society.”

The JDA spokesperson said while terming the government action as “highly regrettable” urged it to revisit the policy.