1. Home
2. Front Page

Shutdown against killings hits normal life

MAJID NABI. Dated: 5/18/2019 8:58:05 AM

Strict restrictions in Srinagar, other parts

SRINAGAR, May 17: Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) shutdown call against recent killings threw normal life out of gear across Kashmir including Srinagar city amid restrictions on Friday. Authorities, fearing law and order, also disallowed Friday congregational prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid.
Restrictions were imposed in parts of Srinagar city to thwart any attempt of protest with elaborate security arrangements put in place to maintain law and order.
Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising both factions of Hurriyat Conference and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) had called for complete shutdown against recent killings in Kashmir valley.
Five militants, a civilian and two army men were killed in separate gunfights in south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian districts on Thursday.
Historic Jamia Masjid was closed for Friday congregational prayers following apprehensions of law and order in Nowhatta area in old city.
All the shops, business establishments, fuel stations remained closed while traffic was off the roads. However, skeletal movement of private vehicles and cabs could be seen on some roads in the city.
Government and semi-government offices, post offices, banks and courts recorded thin attendance of employees due to non-availability of public transport.
All the major marketplaces in Srinagar city and other district headquarters remained closed while suspension of traffic affected inter-district transport services adversely. City Centre Lal Chowk, Batamaloo and Hari Singh High Street witnessed additional deployment of police and paramilitary CRPF in the wake of JRL protest call.
Top separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani who represents Hurriyat Conference (G) continued to be under house arrest at his Hyderpora residence here while Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who heads his faction of Hurriyat Conference (M) was placed under house arrest at his residence at Nigeen.
Authorities also suspended Baramulla-Banihal train services as a precautionary measure while examination scheduled at several colleges and universities today were postponed amid closure of all educational institutions in Srinagar and other districts.
Reports of shutdown were also received from south Kashmir districts including Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam wherein JRL call evoked complete response.
Situation remained comparatively calm in Pulwama and Shopian districts. Unprecedented security arrangements were made to thwart any attempt of protests by people in twin districts amid complete shutdown.
Similar reports of a complete shutdown were received from other district headquarters including Baramullah, Bandipora Kupwara, Budgam and Ganderbal as well.
Authorities, however, had lifted restrictions beforehand in Mirgund Magam and Chenabal areas of Bandipora district after a meeting of officials and community members was held to ensure peace in these areas following killing of a youth in Chenabal few days ago.
Pertinently, a youth who was critically injured during clashes against alleged rape of a minor girl child in Sumbal Bandipora succumbed to his injuries prompting authorities to impose restrictions in the area to prevent further flare-up I situation.