Amid curfew in Kashmir, restrictions in Kargil

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 8/10/2019 1:04:03 AM

Politicians continue to remain under detention

SRINAGAR, Aug 8: The state government on Thursday imposed indefinite prohibitory orders in Kargil, Drass and Sankoo areas of Jammu and Kashmir to maintain peace and tranquility after the district administration feared protests in wake of abrogation of Article 370.
The Kargil District Administration also directed that schools and colleges in the area shall remain closed till further orders.
District Magistrate Baseer-Ul-Haq Choudhary directed that Section 144 CrPC -- prohibiting the gathering of more than four people in one place -- will not affect Medical and Health Services or the Public Works Department.
The Kargil district had observed a shutdown to protest the scrapping of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The call for the shutdown was given by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) Kargil, which met at the office of Kargil Council Chief Executive Councillor Feroz Ahmad Khan on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, several people were detained after they defied restrictions and took out a rally to protest against the revoking of Article 370, an official told agencies.
Over 300 people took out a rally here under the banner of Joint Action Committee.
Some of the people were detained after a minor clash broke out between police and protesters, the officials said.
Days after the Centre's announcement to scrap special status for Jammu and Kashmir and split it into two Union territories, people remained confined mostly indoors amid uncertainty as communication links have been snapped by authorities to prevent any disturbances.
The 'undeclared curfew' has left many people confused and nervous. Amid the restrictions, an unfortunate incident took place in Noorbagh on the outskirts of the city, a few days.
There was a protest in the locality but it ended after baton charge in which six people were injured, the officials said.
People with only urgent work are being allowed to move in the city. They are being subjected to intense checking repeatedly at force pickets where uniformed personnel have discretion to allow them passage or turn them back.
In the absence of any public or private transportation, locals are resorting to taking lift to reach the airport.
With no private or public transport available, several passengers were seen walking towards Srinagar airport, nearly 14 km from Srinagar City centre, with luggage trying to get a lift.
There is complete restriction on information flow -- telecommunication facilities like data, voice and land line.
"We do not know how long this will continue. There is no way we can know the welfare of our near and dear ones. There is no contact with anyone from outside Kashmir or even within the city," said Imtiyaz Beigh, manager of the hotel, who wants to know about his family in the border town of Kupwara, an agency report said.
Reports reaching here said that people were seen lined up outside the pickets trying to argue with the soldiers and paramilitary personnel to let them pass. Some have medical conditions, some have to reach the airport, some have to purchase essentials.
The personnel are checking and verifying documents, identity cards, with some unlucky ones being turned away.
The authorities have not imposed curfew in the city but Section 144 of CrPC which prohibits assembly of five or more persons in an area is being "strictly imposed", an official said.
Any public movement except in extremely needy cases has been barred and all educational institutions are closed, the official said.
Political leaders including former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have been put up in Hari Niwas, which has been turned into a makeshift 'detention centre'. Former MLA from Srinagar, Ali Mohammad Sagar, is also in detention at the building.
Scores of activists from mainstream political parties National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party have been detained at another makeshift detention centre at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre while from those from other parts of the Valley have been brought to such centres in Gurez and Baramulla.

 

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