Kashmir shuts against civilian killings on 3rd straight day

Srinagar: Amid shutdown, authorities Monday foiled Badami Bagh march by imposing stringent restrictions in parts of Srinagar. The road leading towards Badami Bagh was completely sealed even armoured vehicles were stationed on Srinagar-Pantha Chowk road.
Joint Resistance Leadership – an amalgam of separatist leaders headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik – had called for shutdown and a march to Badami Bagh army base in Srinagar to mourn the killings.
On Saturday, seven civilians were killed and over 35 others injured after government forces fired at the protesters near the site of a gunfight that left three militants and a soldier dead in Sarnoo village of Pulwama.
In a bid to foil the march, authorities had imposed curbs and had issued traffic advisory to stop people and commuters to pass through Badami Bagh road. Concertina wires and mobile bunkers were put in place on the entry and exit points. Traffic was diverted towards Bypass while no vehicle was allowed entry into city centre through Badami Bagh.
Army had appealed people not to follow JRL call. Taking no chances, authorities beefed up secrutiy and restricted the movement of people even as the protest marches organized by JKLF in the heart of city was foiled.
Clashes erupted in Maisuma area of Srinagar city after Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik was detained as he tried to march towards Badami Bagh army base in Srinagar.
Malik who had gone underground to evade arrest was detained at Budshah bridge after he along with scores of his followers took out a march towards Badami Bagh army base. Soon after Malik took out a procession from Srinagar’s Gaw Kadal area police swung into action.
“Police fired tear gas shells to foil the protest,” an eyewitness said witness, adding that Malik was taken into custody.
He said that people resorted to stone-throwing leading to clashes near Maisuma area.
Before his arrest, JKLF chairman said that JRL had Monday decided to march towards Badami Bagh cantonment, which is Indian army’s headquarter in Kashmir, to tell them to kill us all in one go and satisfy their lust of Kashmiri blood which they have become addicted of. JKLF chairman said that carnage at Pulwama was not first of its kind as Indian army and other colonial psyched forces have in past carried out many such massacres in Jammu Kashmir. He said that Indian army and forces have become addicted to innocent blood in Kashmir and tuned into blood sucking vampires. Replying to a question, JKLF chairman said that killers cannot remain disguised as saviors for long and we want to tell Indian army and forces that you are killers of Kashmiris and we dare you to kill us all at once and satisfy your lust of Kashmiri blood. JKLF chairman said that from long, Kashmiri innocents, elders, youth, men, women and even children are falling to the bullets and pellets of Indians and while innocent blood is being spilled ruthlessly by India, international community to protect its business and economic links with India are maintaining a criminal silence on it. We want to ask the international community that why this apathy towards human in Kashmir. Isn’t your conscience asking you any questions about this criminal silence? He said that International community needs to change its double standards and try to hold the hands of Indian killers and assassins back and save humans in Kashmir.
Earlier, Police raided different houses in multiple locations of Srinagar city to arrest Muhammad Yasin Malik, however, they failed to nab him.
Police also detained Mirwaiz Umar Farooq when he tried to come out from the house in Nigeen. In a statement issued a party spokesman quoting Mirwaiz said that it has become the routine of government forces to vandalise and blow up the houses, beat people in Kashmir in the name of CASO. “It’s frustration of Indian forces that they have just lost war in Kashmir.” Mirwaiz said.
Adding that as Mirwaiz tried to defy his house detention and march towards Badam Bagh Army Cantonment, number of police personnel was already deployed outside his Nigeen residence and he was detained him along with his supporters and lodged in Nigeen Police Station. Police also arrest Muslim Khawteen Markaz chairperson Yasmeen Raja after she emerged in Press Enclave Srinagar.
Clashes also erupted at Bar Bar Shah Srinagar where a large number of youth took to roads and pelted stones on deployed forces.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in Kashmir valley for third straight day against the killings of seven civilians in southern Pulwama district on the weekend.
All shops and other commercial establishments remained closed in Srinagar and elsewhere in the valley while public transport also remained off the roads. Shutdown was also observed in other district headquarters of Kashmir. Many parts of Chenab Valley also observed shutdown against Pulwama massacre.