Curfew-like restrictions continue for 2nd day in SeK, downtown Srinagar

Srinagar, Oct 19: Curfew-like restrictions remained imposed for the second successive day in the downtown, Shehar-e-Khas (SeK) and parts of civil lines in Srinagar as a precautionary measure to prevent protests after Friday prayers.

Restrictions were imposed in these areas on Thursday for security reasons following a strike called by separatists against 'civilian killings', arrest of youths under Public Safety Act (PSA) and alleged thrashing of mediapersons by security forces.

Police on Friday said that restrictions under Section 144 CrPC (unlawful assembly) remained imposed in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of M R Gunj, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Safa Kadal and Khanyar in the downtown and SeK since Thursday morning as a precautionary measure to prevent any law and order problem.

Restrictions also remained partially imposed in some areas under the jurisdiction of police station Kralkhud in the old city and Maisuma in civil lines.

Security forces and state police personnel were directing people to remain indoors as curfew has been imposed since early Friday morning in these areas.

All gates of historic Jamia Masjid, where no Friday prayers could be offered last week, remained closed since Thursday. A large number of security forces and state police personnel remained deployed in the Jamia market and nearby areas to prevent anybody from entering the worship place, stronghold of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, who remained under house arrest since October 7.

Hundreds of police and security force personnel, wearing bulletproof jackets and holding automatic weapons, were seen patrolling in these areas to strictly implement the restrictions.

The main Nallahmar road from Tarabal Nawa Kadal to Khanyar crossing also remained closed for any traffic or pedestrian movement. Security forces have closed the main road in the downtown and SeK with barbed wire at Nawa Kadal, Rajouri Kadal, Kawdara and Khanyar. Similarly road blocks were erected by security forces at Nowhatta, Rangar stop and Gojwara.

A large number of security forces have also been deployed at Rainawari, Nowpora and Bobdamb.
All roads leading to Maisuma, stronghold of (Jammu And Kashmir Liberation Front) JKLF, remained closed for second day with barbed wire at Budshah Chowk, Haji Masjid and Gaw Kadal, Madina Chowk.
Additional security forces and state police personnel remained deployed in the civil lines, including Residency road, Moulana Azad road, historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, Budshah Chowk and Jehangir Chowk to prevent any law and order problem.

Security forces also remained deployed at Kralkhud and other areas in old city to maintain law and order.

Top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Mehrajudin Bangroo was among three militants killed and a policeman was martyred on Wednesday in an encounter in downtown Srinagar following which youth clashed with security forces at several places. About a dozen video and photo-journalists besides reporters -- representing local, national and international media houses -were allegedly thrashed by security forces when they were covering the encounter in downtown Srinagar.