Curbs, detentions foil JRL’s Lal Chowk march

Srinagar: Law enforcing authorities on Saturday foiled the Lal chowk march of separatist by imposing sealing the commercial hub and imposing restrictions in Srinagar areas.
The ‘Lal Chowk chalo’ call was given by Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, who had appealed people to march towards Lal Chowk today to protest against the PM Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
In response of the call given by the JRL, the disitrct administration in Srinagar imposed restrictions in various areas of Srinagar and also sealed Lal Chowk area to thwart any possible protest rally against the PM’s visit. All the entry and exit points of the commercial Hub Lal chowk were sealed by the forces that were deployed in large number.
A top police official said that besides Lal Chowk, restrictions were imposed within the territorial jurisdictions of Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, Safakadal, MR Gunj, Nishat and partially in Maisuma and Kralkhud police stations of Srinagar.
Sleuths of Police and paramilitary CRPF had erected temporary barricades on the roads, halting the vehicular as well as the pedestrian movement in the restriction bound areas.
Besides, a complete shutdown was observed across the Valley to protest against the Modi’s visit to the state.
Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who tried to march towards Lal Chowk in Srinagar, was detained outside his Nigeen residence along with other party leaders and activists.
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front and Peoples Political Party leaders and activists managed to reach Maisuma from where they tried to march towards Lal Chowk. However, police which had already laid cordon around whole Lal Chowk area immediately sprang into action and stopped the march and detained several leaders and activists.