Restrictions till afternoon, rumours affect normal life in Valley

YUSRA HUSSAIN. Dated: 6/26/2013 11:28:29 PM

SRINAGAR, June 26: Security restrictions and confusion regarding general strike affected the normal life to some extent here today.
Senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammad Yasin Malik and Shabir Ahmad Shah continued under house arrest.
The security restrictions continued even after the prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi flew to Banihal for inaugurating the rail service. The restrictions on the movement of people and vehicular traffic were on Boulevard Road, Nehru Park area, Nishat Shalimar and several other areas of old city of Srinagar and civil lines area till afternoon. The police and security men continued to block the roads, disallowing the vehicular movement.
Subsequently shops, other business establishments and educational institutions remained closed in these areas. The people were not allowed to go to work to other places. However, the restrictions were lifted in the old city in afternoon but shops remained closed at a number of places. The restrictions were also lifted at Boulevard Road and it was thrown open for civilian movement. Same measures were taken at Nishat and Shalimar also. However, the usual hustle bustle was missing in the areas even after lifting of the restrictions.
The hustle bustle was also missing in rest of the city because most people preferred staying at their respective homes since the restrictions till afternoon hampered their efforts to move for work.
Confusion regarding a general strike also resulted in lesser movement of people out on roads and markets. Some rumours were doing rounds since last evening that the strike has been extended by two days. But the separatists denied having extended the strike.
Despite the life limping back to normal, the high alert sounded by police and security forces continued in effect. Additional check points continued to function. The police and security personnel were stopping vehicles for checking. Police said the arrangements will continue for some more days since they have inputs about the presence of militants in Srinagar city.
It may be recalled here that militants had attacked an army convoy at Hyderpora here in which eight soldiers were killed and fourteen others injured. The militants had also engaged cops in an encounter at Barzulla and escaped.

 

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