Curfew imposed, exams cancelled, highway closed, train services suspended

Valley boiling over trucker’s killing; Geelani, Malik detained

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Oct 23: Authorities on Thursday imposed curfew without formal announcement in Srinagar and Anantnag towns, cancelled all the scheduled examinations of the University of Kashmir and Public Service Commission, closed traffic on Srinagar-Jammu highway and suspended all the train services in apprehension of a fresh spell of turbulence over the death of a civilian in an attack in Udhampur on October 9^th.

Even as the separatists have not called for a shutdown or mass protest on Friday, Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar and Anantnag imposed curfew in all major townships, albeit without a formal announcement. Sources said no pedestrian or vehicular traffic movement will be allowed in over half of the capital city besides in Anantnag, Bijbehara and other towns around in South Kashmir on Friday.

It was officially announced on Thursday evening that the University of Kashmir and Public Service Commission have cancelled all the examinations scheduled for October 23. Due to undeclared curfew in Anantnag area on Thursday, students and candidates failed to attend KU’s and PSC’s exams. Sources said that no train services would operate in Kashmir valley on Friday and traffic on Srinagar-Jammu national highway would remain suspended. “Restrictions would remain limited to only Srinagar, Anantnag and parts of Kulgam districts. But other areas could be included if any trouble occurred elsewhere”, a senior official told STATE TIMES.

Main reason of clamping curfew is reportedly Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s plan of holding a protest sit-in at Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of downtown Srinagar. Unusually, Mirwaiz has invited senior separatist leaders, including head of Hurriyat’s radical faction, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, and JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik for the sit-in. Mirwaiz has asserted that the sit-in would be held against the young Kashmiri truck’s killing by fanatics in Udhampur, “repression, State terrorism and interference with religion”.

While Malik had been already taken into custody by the Police at SKIMS Soura on Wednesday, Geelani was lifted from his Hyderpora residence on Thursday and lodged at Police Station Humhama. All other prominent separatist leaders have been placed under house arrest.

DC Srinagar Dr Farooq Lone told STATE TIMES that “restrictions under section 144 Cr PC” would be enforced in areas falling under seven Police Stations of downtown, namely Nowhatta, Maharaja Ranbir Gunj, Safakadal, Rainawari, Khanyar, Kralkhud and Maisuma. DC Anantnag Munir-ul-Islam said that “restrictions” ---euphemism for curfew----would remain in force at the district headquarters and areas around Botengo, residential village of Zahid Rasool Bhat who was attacked by goons in Udhampur with a petrol bomb on October 9^th and died in New Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital on October 19^th.

On Thursday too, both Srinagar and Anantnag areas reeled under undeclared curfew and protestors clashed with Police and CRPF at some places. Unconfirmed reports said that late in the evening, when the authorities restored traffic, a group of people resorted to stone pelting on tourist vehicles on Khannabal-Pahalgam Road. At least one vehicle was reportedly damaged. DC Anantnag said: “I have received this information but I am still seeking its confirmation from Police”.

While as traffic on the highway remained suspended till 9.00 pm, no train services operated. Reports from South Kashmir said that unrest over the trucker’s death has spread to usually calm and peaceful areas of Anantnag, particularly on either side of both the roads connecting Anantnag and Pahalgam. Intense stone pelting was witnessed on the last four days not only in Anantnag, Bijbehara, Botengo and Ashajipora but also at Mattan, Akad, Srigufwara, Salar and other villages.

Anantnag-based cleric Qazi Yasir had called for shutdown in the district on Thursday. Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani had planned to visit the slain trucker’s residence. However, authorities placed Concertina wires and blockades, sealed all the roads leading to Botengo and did not allow outsiders to gather for Zahid’s fourth day remembrance ceremony. As two civilians, Naseer Ahmad Dar of Zirpara and Javed Ahmad Sofi of Sethar (Bijbehara) were critically injured during clashes on Wednesday and Thursday, situation grew further tense.

A Police spokesman said in a hand out that Sofi was hit by a stone thrown by miscreants near Chursu, Awantipora. His condition was critical at SKIMS, Soura.

Here in the summer capital, curfew was enforced with similar restrictions by the authorities in Lalchowk, Civil Lines and several other areas mainly to foil the Shia Muslims’ attempts to take out a traditional Zuljanah and Tazia procession on occasion of the 8^th of Moharram. Karbala mourners clashed with Police at several places. Police forced their retreat amid slogans as scores of the mourners were taken into custody and detained at different places.

Since 1989, authorities have not allowed 8^th Moharram and 10^th Moharram (Ashura) processions in Civil Lines, though these gatherings are not disrupted in Zadibal, Hassanabad and other Shia-dominated localities in the Capital.

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