The authorities on Friday imposed curfew in areas under seven police stations of Srinagar to prevent a protest march called by the separatists. The separatists had planned to foil the restrictions imposed by the authorities on the congregational prayers at Srinagar’s grand mosque where no congregational Friday prayers have been held since mid-July.
The Valley observed a near-total shutdown and the normal life continued to remain affected on the 126th consecutive day due to separatist sponsored shutdown. Apart from educational
institutions most of the shops, market places, business establishments, industrial units, petrol pumps and courts remained closed.
Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq attempted to march towards Jamia Masjid from their residences. However, the police foiled the attempts and detained both the leaders at police stations.
The authorities have already taken JKlF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik into custody a few days after his brief parole. He has been lodged at Srinagar central jail.
Clashes were reported from Aloosa and Papchan areas in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district and Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. While ‘pro freedom’ rally was foiled in Aloosa, peaceful ‘pro freedom’ rallies were reported from Ajas and Ganstan areas of Bandipora. There was no major untoward incident reported from any part of the Valley.
The separatists had called for “Jamia Masjid March” in old city Srinagar and had urged the people to move towards central mosque on Thursday evening. The programme had been announced to observe “Day of Steadfastness”. The authorities had made adequate security arrangements to disallow the Jamia Masjid march to maintain law and order. Due to the strict restrictions, the congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid could not be held for the 18th week. Train services between Banihal in Jammu and Baramulla in Kashmir remains suspended for the past more than four months. Mobile internet also continued to remain suspended since July 9.