The authorities announced to impose restrictions in old parts of Srinagar on Thursday to thwart separatists’ plans to hold rally to commemorate the death anniversary of Mirwaiz Farooq and Abdul Gani lone who were killed by militants in 1990 and 2002 respectively. Hundreds of supporters of Mirwaiz on Wednesday held a protest rally in Srinagar waving green flags and chanting anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans.
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been put under house arrest at his Nageen mansion but despite restrictions he spoke to his supporters who had gathered at Hawal Chowk where dozens of protesters had been killed in the funeral procession of Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq. The moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz has called for a shutdown in Kashmir on Thursday to commemorate the death anniversary.
Mirwaiz Farooq was killed by unknown gunmen at his residence on May 21 morning in 1990, a few days after Governor’s rule had been imposed in J&K following Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah’s resignation. The assassination took an ugly turn when dozens of protesters were killed by security forces during the funeral procession. Even Mirwaiz’s coffin had received some bullets. Separatists and Opposition National Conference (NC) blame Mufti Muhammad Sayeed for the carnage, who was Home Minister at that time in VP Singh’s regime.
Mirwaiz’s party—Awami Action Committee—is commemorating the day as “Marty’s Day” since 1990. Incidentally, another separatist leader Abdul Gani lone was killed on the same day shortly he addressed a gathering at “Martyr’s graveyard” at Eidgah where hundreds of militants and civilians who died during the 25-year insurgency in Kashmir, are buried.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s pocket borough in old Srinagar is known for pro-Pakistan sentiments. Eyewitnesses said that the protesters waved green flags of their party and chanted pro-Pakistan slogans while marching towards their detained leader’s residence. Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Farooq Ahmad lone said that in the areas of old Srinagar in jurisdiction of six police stations, section 144 (disallowing gathering of more than four persons) shall be imposed. He said that in view of law and order situation such a decision has been taken.
Mirwaiz’s party had approached the authorities to allow them to hold a rally at Eidgah. Mirwaiz castigated the state authorities over imposing restrictions on his movement and placing him under house-detention. “The slogan of so-called democratic dispensation has miserably failed to provide political space to resistance leadership. It has violated democratic codes and strangulated freedom of expression and as such unmasked itself as a tyrannical government hiding behind the garb of democracy”, a spokesman of Mirwaiz’s Hurriyat said.