Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel remained on high alert in Kashmir Valley on Friday on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to the embattled region after assuming office on May 26.
Curfew was clamped in jurisdiction of five police stations in old Srinagar while two vital roads — Boulevard Road and Gupkar Road — were out of bounds for common people during the period when the Prime Minister had lunch at Raj Bhawan and addressed soldiers at the XV Corps headquarters. All separatist groups including three factions of Hurriyat Conference, JKlF and United Jehad Council had called for a shutdown. The separatists have been calling for shutdown on the arrival of top dignitaries to exhibit resentment against “refusal to efforts for resolution of Kashmir issue”.
All shops, business establishments, banks, courts and educational institutions remained closed and traffic was off the roads. The impact of shutdown was immense in many towns of south and north Kashmir also. Even as it was the first Friday of Ramzan, the month of fasting, the afternoon congregational prayers were not held at historic Jamia Masjid in old city due to restrictions. Mirwiaz Umar Farooq, who delivers weekly politico-religious sermon at the mosque, was put under house arrest, like other separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Shabir Shah and Yasin Malik.
Sources said that clashes erupted between protesters and security forces in Bandipore town of north Kashmir. At least, one protester was wounded in the clashes. Reports from Baramulla said that life remained paralysed as shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads. Police said protesters marched in Cheeni Chowk of Anantnag, Soura and Tral pockets also.
The authorities declared Boulevard Road and Gupkar Road out of bounds for commoners during the time when the Prime Minister was at Raj Bhawan and XV Corps headquarters. “This was not merely a common shutdown but a referendum by the people of Kashmir against the policies of the BJP vis-à-vis Valley,” senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani said. “The shutdown is an eye-opener for the helmsmen at New Delhi to know that the people of Kashmir outrightly reject the policies of the BJP-led Government,” he said.
Mirwaiz Farooq said that the complete shutdown in Kashmir reflects where the emotions and aspirations of people lie. “Instead of suppressing the prevalent sentiments, the Government of India should show political courage to solve the Kashmir issue,” Mirwaiz said.