Restrictions continues for second day today in Srinagar

The main gates of historic Jamia Masjid, stronghold of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, were closed again on Saturday morning and a large number of security forces have been deployed to prevent people from entering the worship place. No Friday prayers could be offered during the last three weeks due restrictions.

Police said restrictions under Section 144 CrPC continued since Friday morning as a precautionary measure in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of police station MR Gunj, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Safa Kadal and Rainawari in the SeK and down.

Similar restrictions remained also imposed since Friday morning in Kralkhud in the old city and Maisuma, stronghold of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) in the civil lines.

Both the factions of the HC and JKLF, spearheading the agitation, demanding right to self determination, have called for a general strike and civil curfew today against braid chopping incidents in the valley, where over 100 such incidents were reported for the past about two months. Yesterday the separatists had called for protests after Friday prayers against braid chopping.

All main roads besides bylanes remained closed with barbed wire and large number of security forces and state police personnel have been deployed to strictly implement the restrictions.

Repeated announcements were being made by security forces directing people to remain indoors since curfew has been imposed, a resident told UNI over phone from Nowhatta. He said a large number of security forces had been deployed in the Jamia market and devotees were not allowed to go inside the Masjid since this morning. No Friday prayers could be offered yesterday due to restrictions, he said adding security forces have also closed main road with barbed wire at Gojwara chowk leading to historic Masjid. Similar restrictions had been imposed at Rangar Stop.

The entire Nallahmar road from Brarpora Nawa Kadal to Khanyar has also been closed at several places with barbed wire or parking bullet proof bunker vehicles in the middle. People living on both sides of the otherwise busy Nallahmar Road alleged that they were not allowed to move out of their houses by the security forces deployed after every ten feet. Milkmen and vegetable sellers were also not allowed to enter from the outskirts for the second day today, they said, adding that the bread making shops remained closed due to restrictions. Security forces had also closed the main road at Rangar stop and nobody was being allowed to move towards Jamia Masjid.

However, the Safa Kadal Road to SK Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) via Eidgah was open though only patients and ambulances were being allowed.

Shops and business establishments besides government offices and banks also remained closed in the restricted areas.

In the civil lines, including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, additional security forces and state police personnel had been deployed since early this morning to prevent any demonstration. Large number of security forces had been deployed on Moulana Azad Road and Residency road.

Though there was no restriction in the uptown, security forces and state police personnel remained deployed, particularly on Srinagar-Airport road since early this morning to prevent any stone pelting incidents following strike call.