Restrictions in some areas of Srinagar ahead of Hurriyat rally

The police station areas where strict restrictions have been imposed include Maharaj Gunj,Nowhatta,Safa Kadal,Khanyar and Rainawari.

The decision to impose restrictions in these areas was taken after moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq turned down a request from senior government officials to cancel his plans of constructing a Martyrs’ memorial wall at Eidgah.

The decision of not allowing the Hurriyat Conference rally at Eidgah,organised every year on this day to pay tributes to slain separatist leaders Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone,was taken at a high level meeting of police,intelligence and civil administration officials here,official sources said.

The sources said there were “apprehensions that elements inimical to peace and stability in Kashmir” might take advantage of the large gathering to target the leaders present there.

Keeping in view the killing of Jamiat-e-Ahli Hadees chief outside a mosque at Maisuma last month and killing of Abdul Gani Lone at a similar rally in 2002,it was decided that no congregation will be allowed at Eidgah,they said.

The sources said that a large number of police and paramilitary CRPF personnel have been deployed in the five police station areas in old city to prevent any gathering of people.

This is for the first time this year that authorities have imposed restrictions in any part of the city to foil separatists’ plans of holding a rally.

Mirwaiz yesterday announced that Hurriyat Conference will lay a foundation for a Martyrs’ Memorial at the Eidgah graveyard.

The Hurriyat Chairman claimed that senior civil administration and police officials visited his residence and asked him not to go ahead with the construction of the memorial.

Meanwhile,normal life was partially affected in the Valley today due a strike called by the Hurriyat.

Most of the schools,colleges and other educational institutions remained closed.

While business establishments in commercial of hubs of Lal Chowk and Batamaloo remained closed,many shops were open in the Civil Lines and suburbs of the city.

Public transport was affected due to the strike.