‘Quit J&K’ intensifies as Hurriyat extends shutdown to Jul 25

Amid curfew in downtown Srinagar, rallies taken out from mosques in Valley

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Jul 16: With a relaxation on Saturday and next Sunday, hardliner Hurriyat (Geelani) has issued a fresh calendar of demonstrations as part of its “Quit Jammu & Kashmir Movement” and extended current series of shutdown in Kashmir valley to July 25th. On Friday following Meraj-un-Nabi, nearly 8,000 Muslims today participated in the afternoon prayers at Hazratbal but curfew remained strictly in force in over half of the capital city and anti-India rallies came out from hundreds of mosques in the Valley.

Radical faction of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, headed by the detained octogenarian Syed Ali Shah Geelani, issued a fresh calendar of demonstrations and strikes today. Reeling under continued shutdowns and curfew restrictions for over 15 days now, Valley has been on the edge with Geelani’s “Quit Jammu & Kashmir Movement”. Initially built on some civilian deaths in clashes with Police and CRPF, Geelani’s campaign has the declared objective of forcing “India” to leave the state. Geelani has coined an altogether fresh slogan of “GO INDIA GO BACK” which has fast become popular among separatists, particularly in Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s stronghold in downtown Srinagar. Mirwaiz has been heading so-called moderate faction of the Hurriyat.

In apprehension of trouble on occasion of Friday following Meraj-un-Nabi festival, authorities today’s enforced curfew strictly in downtown areas falling under seven Police Stations. As Geelani’s conglomerate, supported by a many other separatist groups, had called for a mass march to the neighbourhood of three youngsters killed in Police action earlier this week, Batmaloo remained under curfew for the whole day. Without formal declaration, authorities also enforced restrictions in Sopore, Handwara, Baramulla and Anantnag townships.

Reports said that some 8,000 devotees participated in the Friday afternoon congregational prayers at Hazratbal shrine today. Under tight security arrangements, at least one of Omar Abdullah’s ministerial colleagues, namely Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, also attended the prayers. Traffic was not allowed on any incoming or outgoing route other than Northern Foreshore Road, passing through banks of Dal Lake.

Reports said that immediately after the Friday prayers at local mosques, anti-India and pro-Azadi demonstrations surfaced on streets at more than 50 places in Srinagar and other major towns in the Valley. Though the size of these rallies was thin, participants shouted “Go India Go Back” slogans. Reports of clashes between the demonstrators and Police poured in from about 15 places. Official sources said that SHO Ganderbal and two of the demonstrators sustained injuries in a major clash at Saloora, in Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s Assembly constituency.

With the state government losing grip on the fast deteriorating situation, hundreds of demonstrators today converged well in front of J&K Police Headquarters on Srinagar Airport Road and engaged Police in ding dong clashes for about one hour. It was for the first time that mobs shouted pro-Azadi and anti-India slogans literally at the office of Director General of Police, sending signals to the sections of population still away from such demonstrations. As already reported, separatist crowds have also begun to check photo identity cards in search of Police personnel, obviously in an attempt to demoralize Police force. Reports of the Policemen being subjected to harassment, humiliation and manhandling are also pouring in from several areas.

Geelani’s shutdown calendar, issued today by his organization and also by Dukhtaraan-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi, asked the Kashmiris to enjoy a relaxation in bandh tomorrow till 1300 hours. It said that traffic would operate, schools and government offices would open and function normally and business establishments would also remain open. It called for total shutdown on July 18, 19 and 20 and asked the people to arrange sit-in demonstrations on the neighbourhood streets on July 21 and 22. On Friday, July 24th, residents of Srinagar have been asked to assemble for a major anti-India and pro-Azadi show at Khankah-e-Moula shrine in the city interior of Fatehkadal.

Authorities are expected to enforce curfew and other restrictions on all the three days in apprehension of escalation in demonstrations and clashes. The calendar has called for another total bandh on July 24th.

Announcing full day relaxation, Geelani’s calendar has asked the Kashmiris to do their shopping on Sunday July 25th--- albeit without mentioning where their money would come from without working for about a full month.

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