Undeclared curfew was imposed today in the areas falling under five police stations of Srinagar city including Lal Chowk. Normal life was paralysed in the affected areas. This was for the second time during the last three days that the areas came under curfew. According to officials, the curfew was imposed today to thwart the Lal Chak chalo call given by njuman-e-Sharie Shian. On Sunday, the curfew was imposed to foil the Muharum procession from Abiguzar. On that day, police had to use smoke shells and resort to lathi charge to disperse the mourners who made several attempts at Jehangir Chowk and Exhibition Crossing to move towards Lal Chowk. Force was also used on Sunday at some places in old city. While the situation remained peaceful at Exhibition Crossing and Jehangir Chowk, clashes occurred between protestors and police in some parts of old city.
During the wee hours of this morning, police and paramilitary forces had blocked with barbed wire the Moulana Azad Bridge, Amirakadal Bridge, TRC Crossing, Abi Guzzar, Maisuma, Kokerbazar, Court Road, Foot Bridge, Khayam Chowk, Babar Shah Bridge, Gawkadal Bridge, and other important roads. The people were not being allowed inside. Even the media persons were not allowed towards Press Enclave at several places. Rainawari, Hasnabad, Saida Kadal, Hawal, Maulvi Stop, Alamgari Bazar, and Gojwara faced similar situation.
Shops and other business establishments remained closed in the curfew bound areas. Transport was also off the roads. The roads and streets wore a deserted look with only police and paramilitary forces present there, while civilians were forced to remain indoors.At least 10 persons trying to stage a procession from TRC to Abi Guzar were taken into custody by police in the morning. The arrestees included separatist Nisar Ahmad Rather.The police officials, however, said that they were later on released. “All of them were released shortly afterwards,” said a police official from Kothi Bagh police station.Minor clashes between protestors and the forces were witnessed in afternoon in several old city areas. The clashes started at Islamia College were youth engaged the forces in pitched battles, which subsequently spread to adjoining Gojwara and Rajouri Kadal areas. However, no injuries were reported.Muharum processions were taken out at several places in non-curfew bound areas.
The largest processions were received from Zadibal here and central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
Lead by Maulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari , the mourners marched from Bota Kadal to Imambara Zadibal. Before proceeding to Imambara, Maulvi Iftikhar addressed the mourners near Alamgari Bazar, throwing light on the incident of Karbala. However, the procession was strictly restricted to internal areas. At Budgam, the mourners gathered at Mirgund in the morning and marched towards Bihisht Zehra near the DC office and subsequently to Imambara Budgam. The procession was lead by Aga Hasan Al Mousvi Al Safvi of the Anjuman Sharia Shian. Starting in the forenoon, the processions were on when the last reports arrived here.
Many smaller processions were received from Khumeni Chowk Bemina, Balhama and other Shia populated areas of the Valley. Camps for refreshment and medical aid to the mourners were setup at many places by various government departments and private organisations. The State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) deployed the buses for convenience of the mourners while the government ensured availability of ambulances along the routes of processions.
No untoward incident was reported till the reports last came in.
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