Curfew imposed in Srinagar, restrictions in other parts of Kashmir

Srinagar: Curfew has been clamped in the summer capital, Srinagar, while restrictions have been imposed in other parts of Kashmir valley as a precautionary measure in view of protests and clashes, triggered by the death of chief of Ansar Gazwatul Hind Zakir Musa in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, life came to a grinding halt in restriction free areas in the valley on Friday following a spontaneous strike against the killing of Musa.
Authorities have closed all educational institutes as a precautionary measure in the valley, where mobile internet and train services have also been suspended for security reasons following the Thursday incident.
A police official told UNI that curfew has been clamped in Srinagar while security forces have been deployed in strength to strictly implement restrictions imposed under section 144 CrPc in other parts of the valley, including Pulwama, Awantipora, Anantnag in south and Budgam in central Kashmir on Friday.
All the roads leading to Jamia Masjid were closed with barbed wires while the gates to the historic mosque were also locked and people were not allowed to enter the worship place since this morning. This is for the second successive week that Friday prayers were not allowed in Jamia Masjid, where moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq addresses Friday conjugation.
A large number of security forces and state police personnel have been deployed outside the Masjid and adjoining areas to stop any movement on the roads.
Repeated announcements were being made through public address system in different parts of the summer capital, Srinagar, particularly in downtown area, directing people to remain indoors in view of a curfew. Any violation would be dealt with sternly, people were being warned.
Hundreds of police and security force personnel, wearing bullet proof jackets and holding automatic weapons, were seen patrolling to strictly implement the curfew in the city.
The main Nallahmar road from Tarabal Nawa Kadal to Khanyar crossing has been closed for any traffic or pedestrian movement. Security forces have closed the main road in the downtown and SeK with barbed wire at Nawa Kadal, Rajouri Kadal, Kawdara and Khanyar. Similarly road blocks were erected by security forces at Nowhatta, Rangar stop and Gojwara.
A large number of security forces have also been deployed at Rainawari, Nowpora and Bobdamb to strictly implement curfew.
All roads leading to Maisuma, stronghold of JKLF, have been closed with barbed wire at Gaw Kadal, Madina Chowk and Red Cross road. Roads leading to Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, have also been closed with barbed wires.
Additional security forces and state police personnel have also been deployed in the civil lines, including Residency road, Moulana Azad road, Budshah Chowk and Jehangir Chowk to maintain law and order.
In the uptown Srinagar, security forces have closed roads near Rambagh with barbed wires and no one was allowed to move toward civil lines and vice versa.
Musa was killed in a 12-hour-long encounter with security forces at Tral in south Kashmir district of Pulwama, triggering spontaneous protests and clashes across the valley, including many areas in Srinagar, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Awantipora.
Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) top commander Burhan Wani was also killed in the same area in July 2016, evoking valley wide protests and clashes which last for several months and claimed the lives of over 100 civilians in security force action.
Restrictions were also imposed in Pulwama, Awantipora, Anantnag in south and Budgam in central Kashmir. Security forces have been deployed in strength across Kashmir valley as a precautionary measure to prevent protests. All roads leading to the slain militant’s native village Noorpora Tral have been sealed to prevent people from adjoining areas to assemble there. Curfew like restrictions have been imposed in Tral and other parts of Pulwama district to prevent demonstrations.
Even though there was no strike call given by any separatists group, shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads in restriction free areas in the valley, including Shopian, Kulgam districts in south, Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla in north and Ganderbal in central Kashmir.