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Restrictions, shutdown, clashes continue for 2nd day in Kashmir

MAJID NABI. Dated: 5/26/2019 12:27:58 AM

SRINAGAR, May 25: On Hurriyat Conference(G) call, complete shutdown was observed in Kashmir on the second consecutive day today amid curfew like restrictions and clashes in parts of Srinagar and South Kashmir to mourn the killing of militant commander Zakir Musa in encounter with government forces Friday.
Besides south Kashmir’s Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama districts, authorities imposed curfew like restrictions in summer capital Srinagar to thwart any attempt of protest. Clashes also broke out in old city and south Kashmir parts between youth and government forces.
Call for shutdown was given by Hurriyat Conference (G) led by the ailing separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani against the killing of Zakir Rashid Bhat alias Musa in encounter with government forces at Dadsara Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama on Friday.
While public transport was by and large off the roads, business activity too came to standstill across valley in response to the shutdown call by Hurriyat (G). Routine work in government and semi government offices, courts and banks was also suspended.
As a precautionary measure, authorities also suspended Banihal-Baramulla train services while educational institutions remained closed on second straight day in Kashmir.
Authorities imposed stringent restrictions in summer capital Srinagar to curb public movement while elaborate security arrangements was made in old city with all roads lanes and by-lanes blocked with iron barricades and barbed wires to thwart any attempt of protest.
Amid restrictions, youth clashes with government forces at several areas of old city including Zaldagar, Chinkral Mohalla, Habbakadal, Chotta Bazar, Tankipora, Batamalloo, Eidgah and Bohrikadal.
Reports of clashes were also received from Harwan and Shalimar areas on the city outskirts while youth also fought pitched battles with government at some uptown localities which include Gopal Pora Cahdoora, Moochoa, Natipora and Baghi Mehtab.
Police and CRPF deployed on roads for law and order duty fired tear smoke shells to disperse the agitating youth. However no injury was reported from anywhere.
Top separatist leaders including Hurriyat (G) and (M) Chairman’s Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq continued to be under house detention at their residences.
In Pulwama district authorities imposed curfew like restrictions amid complete shutdown to thwart protests by people in the wake of the killing of top militant commander Zakir Musa who was heading Ansar Ghazwatul Hind a constituent of Al-Qaeda in Kashmir.
Reports said that elaborate arrangements of security was made with additional companies of police and paramilitary forces deployed on all nooks and corners of the district to maintain law and order. Mobile internet service continued to be suspended in Pulwama and Shopian districts.
In Shopian reports said that a complete shutdown was observed amid restrictions and curbs on the movement of people. Similar reports were received from other districts of south Kashmir including Anantnag wherein shutdown call evoked total response.
Reports reaching here from north Kashmir also suggested that people observed complete shutdown on the call of Hurriyat (G). Similarly complete shutdown was observed in Ganderbal and Budgam districts against the killing of Zakir Musa.