SDA complex attacked, vehicles damaged amid curfew

Geelani detained, 30 arrested as clashes continue in Kashmir

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Sep 8: Amid state-enforced curfew in the capital and the Hurriyat-sponsored shutdown in rest of the Kashmir valley, violent crowds today attacked offices of Srinagar Development Authority (SDA). With the protest demonstrations and clashes continuing on umpteenth day, authorities arrested around 30 persons and also picked up separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani for temporary detention.

Official sources told Early Times that Hurriyat (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, was reportedly planning to create a law and order situation at Hazratbal on occasion of the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers on Friday. Turning down the rival Hurriyat faction head Mirwaiz Umar’s invitation of participating in the Eid congregational prayers at Eidgah, Geelani had made it public through media that he would be attending the festival prayers at Hazratbal. Budgam Police approached a junior executive magistrate and got orders of Geelani’s temporary detention under section 107/151 CrPC. He was later picked up from his Hyderpora residence and detained at Police Station Humhama.

Officials made it clear that it was a temporary bailable detention and Mr Geelani could be easily bailed out by an executive magistrate. They said that he would be set free on an undertaking of not creating a law and order situation anytime.

Every year, thousands of devout Muslims participate in the congregational prayers on occasion of Eid at Hazratbal. This most revered place of worship and religious assemblies in the Valley, developed by late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah at a large scale, has been a bastion of the ruling National Conference ever since it was created as a politico-religious platform by Sheikh over 70 years ago. It has been under the control of state-run Auqaf body. In more than two statements this year, Geelani has described it as the “peoples property” and asked the state government and the ruling politicians to clear out from Hazratbal.

Even as the government has obstructed Geelani’s advance, informed sources said that none of senior leaders of the National Conference (NC) or the government functionaries would be participating in the Eid prayers at Hazratbal this year. Sources said that, like on Jumatul Vida, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his Ministerial and party colleagues would be performing the Eid prayers at Sayeed Sahib shrine near Gupkar Road on Friday. This, they said, was being done to ward off potential disturbance at Hazratbal. Sources said that MLA Hazratbal, Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, was planning to mark his attendance “at an opportune time” at Hazratbal on the day of Eid.

Meanwhile, demonstrations to protest four civilian killings at Palhalan on Moday last continued on the second consecutive day in Kashmir valley today. Reports said that thin groups of demonstrators shouted anti-India, pro-Islam and pro-Azadi slogans at more than 20 spots. Most of these demonstrations remained peaceful. However, unruly groups resorted to stone pelting on public properties, Police and security forces at more than half-a-dozen places. Reports said that more than 10 civilian demonstrators and Police personnel sustained minor injuries in these clashes.

Reports said that a Jammu-bound Tempo Traveler was attacked and its driver beaten up by a group of people at Awantipore on Srinagar-Jammu Highway. These reports said that more than 10 vehicles, official as well as civilian, were damaged today at different places for defying Geelani’s call of total shutdown. Official sources said that another group of stone pelters torched a Maruti car, bearing registration No: DAC- 2746, at Ompora Chowk, on Srinagar-Budgam Road, late this evening.

The largest attack happened on SDA complex in Bemina outskirts on the Highway Bypass. Informed sources said that after three of previous attacked in June and August, hundreds of people today launched a major attack on the SDA complex. They resorted to heavy stone pelting and shattered glass panes, windows and ventilators. In the first attack in the forenoon, a smaller group damaged the official car of SDA Vice Chairman, Syed Kifayat Hussain Rizvi, who was present on duty. A thick CRPF bandobust was deployed for safety of the public property and the staff.

Nevertheless, a thicker mob launched second attack in the afternoon and caused massive damage to the complex. Eyewitnesses said that the CRPF deployment withdrew to the rear and did not engage in any clash with the mob. SSP Srinagar quickly sent a Police reinforcement that prevented the complex from being destroyed as repeated attempts were made to set it on fire. Still, the unruly mob torched a truck of SDA’s Demolition Squad and caused considerable damage to two employees’ cars and a motorcycle.

Official version

Situation across the valley remained by and large peaceful barring few incidents of stone pelting at Behama Chowk in Ganderbal, Main Chowk in Sopore, Habak crossing and Sabzi Mandi Soura,and Telbal,Chatabal in Srinagar, Galwanpora Hyderpora in Budgam.However,one middle aged person has been seriously injured by a brick or stone and has been admitted in SKIMS,Soura.

The civilian namely Ghulam Mohammed Guroo aged about 55 years resident of HMT has received head injury by a brick or stone and has been admitted in SKIMS Soura.He was injured at SDA Bemina,according to the local police.As has been reported earlier,a group of miscreants resorted to pelting stones near SDA complex Bemina. The unruly mob torched a truck bearing registration number JK01C-7236. Police chased them away using mild lathie charge and tear smoke shells.

Near Telbal on Foreshore road in Hazratbal mobs of miscreants pelted stones and erected hurdles on the road .The pelted stones bouldes on the police and CRPF.The forces used mild lathie charge and tear smoke to disburse the mob. However, the miscreants did not relent.The police was forced to use palletsin which one person namely Bilal Ahmad Bhat son of Mohammed Ramzan resident of Telbal wasinjuredand has been hospitalized. His condition is stable.

One miscreant Showkat Ahmed Khan s/o Abdul Ahad r/o Behama, Ganderbal received plastic pallet injury in his leg when the mob did not relent and continued with throwing stones, bricks and police had to use pallets. His condition is out of danger.

Stone pelting was also reported from Chatabal in Srinagar. Police used tear smoke shells, and some pallets to disperse the mob. One stone pelter namely Ubaid Ahmad son of Mehraj u din resident of Chhatabal has got injured in leg. His condition is stable.

Today late in the evening some miscreants torched one Maruti Car bearing registration number DAC-2746 at Ompora, Budgam. Police has reached to the spot. More details to follow.

END