Shutdown, restrictions cripple normal life in valley

Srinagar: Authorities on Saturday imposed restrictions in Srinagar areas while as the complete shutdown was observed across the Valley against the civilian killings, desecration of graveyards, Jamia Masjid Srinagar.
The shutdown call was given by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik.
In response of the JRL’s call, the district administration Srinagar imposed restrictions in areas falling under the jurisdiction of Nowhatta, Rainawari, Safakadal, Khanyar, MR Gunj, Maisuma and Kralkhud police station.
The curbs have been imposed as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, officials said.
Witnesses said that strict restrictions were imposed in Nowhatta area following the death of a youth identified as Kaiser Ahmad of Fateh Kadal, who was run over by a CRPF vehicle in Nowhatta on Friday.
Kaiser was rushed to SKIMS after he sustained grievous injuries at Nowhatta. He succumbed to his injuries in the intervening night of Friday-Saturday.
Meanwhile, the body of slain youth was taken to Fateh Kadal in the mid night.
Thousands of people participated in funeral procession of Kaiser Ahmad during which slogans in favour of freedom and against India were raised.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed across the Valley to protest against the civilian killings, desecration of Jamia Masjid and graveyards.
All the shops, business establishments, educational institutes and petrol pumps remained closed throughout the day while as the traffic remained thin on the roads.
Authorities also suspended train services across Kashmir. “We have again suspended train service in the Kashmir valley following a fresh directive from police,” reports quoting officials said.
Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest to prevent him from leading protest against the killing of a youth in Srinagar Friday this week. A spokesman said that Mirwaiz was placed under detention at his Nigeen residence.
Following his detention, Mirwaiz took to social networking website twitter to condemn the death of Kaisar Ahmad, who was ploughed down by a Central Reserve Police Force vehicle during protests in old city yesterday.
“Downtown put under curfew Internet snapped while I placed under #HouseArrest barring me from addressing a rally on occasion of JungEbadr.All this while we lost another 21 year old youth Kaiser Bhat to Indian occupation as he was mowed to death by a CRPF vehicle,Deeply grieved!” tweeted Mirwaiz.
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik was arrested from his residence in Srinagar. A spokesman of the outfit said Malik was arrested from his Maisuma residence today morning. “A posse of policemen arrived at his residence and detained him,” he said.
All the trains remained suspended on Srinagar-Islamabad-Qazigund in south Kashmir with Banihal in Jammu. Authorities had also suspended mobile internet services in Kashmir following the death of a youth.
The mobile internet services were suspended in Central Kashmir’s Srinagar and Budgam district.
However, authorities restored 2g internet services in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, a top police official said that the situation remained peaceful and under control throughout the day.