The authorities on Monday sealed off all roads leading to headquarters of XV Corps in Srinagar to thwart separatists plan to stage a protest demonstration in the garrison area against the spree of civilian killings. Police detained two main separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik to foil their march towards the largest cantonment in summer capital Srinagar.
The separatists had called for a protest demonstration in front of the office of the XV Corps Commander who commands the military operations in the entire Kashmir Valley. The army had counselled the people against paying heed to the separatists’ call. The proposed protest was part of 3-day shutdown called by the separatists against the killing of seven civilians in Sirnoo village of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday. Three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists and an Army soldier were also killed in the encounter. The locals blamed the security forces for “target killings.”
Senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq defied police restrictions on his mansion in Nigeen area of Srinagar outskirts and led a group of his supporters to march towards the cantonment area. However, he was intercepted by a large contingent of police, mostly masked personnel, who took him into brief custody after a bout of slogan-shouting. Before being whisked to police station, Mirwaiz was allowed to address his supporters. He blamed the state authorities for unleashing a reign of terror by killing what he called innocent civilians.
“After indiscriminate killings, civilians are branded as over ground workers and terrorists which is preposterous in itself, but what is worse is that this propaganda is used as a means of endorsing and justifying the civilian killings by armed forces. Delhi has overplayed the terrorist, Pak proxy and instigators card and no one is buying this narrative except some people in India at whom it is aimed for electoral gains,” Mirwaiz said adding the world sees for itself the ever-growing graph of atrocities and massacres of Kashmiris who are seeking peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
Another separatist leader and JKLF chairman Yasin Malik also detained by police after he tried to march towards Badami Bagh cantonment in Srinagar. Reports said Malik along-with his supporters including several women assembled at Gaw Kadal locality to begin their march.
Eyewitnesses said as soon as Malik reached near Budshah bridge a police party swung into action and detained him. Police fired tear gas smoke shells to disperse the crowd.
The authorities had ordered restrictions on public movement under Sec 144 CrPc in various parts of Srinagar district in view of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) call for protest march towards Army’s XV Corps Headquarters. The authorities ordered imposition of restrictions within the territorial jurisdiction of Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, Safakadal, MR Gunj and Ram Munshi Bagh police stations of the district. In addition, partial restrictions are in force within the territorial jurisdiction of Maisuma and Kralkhud police stations in the uptown city.
The normal life remained affected across Kashmir Valley on third consecutive day in response to the JRL’s shutdown call No untoward incident was reported from any part of Valley.
Shops, business establishments and fuel stations remained closed while public transport was off the roads in summer capital Srinagar. However, scarce private vehicles besides ambulances plied on the city roads. The attendance in government and semi government offices is also affected.
Similar reports of shutdown and effect on normal life were received from other district headquarters in the Valley.
Heavy deployment of police and paramilitary security personnel was made in Pulwama district and adjoining Shopian district. Train services between Srinagar and Banihal in Jammu and connecting north Kashmir’s Baramulla district remained suspended for the third day. The mobile internet services in Srinagar besides Pulwama and Shopian districts are suspended as a precautionary measure.
The civilian killings evoked widespread condemnation from both separatist as well as mainstream political parties including NC, PDP, Congress and other smaller parties calling for halt to such killings and political initiatives to resolve Kashmir issue.
Governor Satya Pal Malik expressed grief over killings and directed security forces to adhere to Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) during anti militancy operations. He also directed divisional administration Kashmir to conduct probe into the Pulwama incident. Advisor to Governor K Vijay Kumar held a security review meeting in Srinagar on Sunday and urged upon the security forces to adhere to SOPs while conducting counterinsurgency operations.