Curfew-like restrictions hampered normal life in most parts of capital Srinagar as authorities foiled senior Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s programme to hold a day-long convention in a park here.
Mirwaiz was himself put under house arrest at his mansion in Nigeen pocket of Srinagar and disallowed to deliver weekly sermon.The convention was scheduled on the completion of 50 years of his party - Awami Action Committee (AAC), which was founded in 1964 to spearhead agitation the theft of holy relic of Prophet Muhammad from Hazratbal shrine. The agitation led to the fall of government headed by the then Prime Minister Shamsuddin.
Concertina wires and barricades were placed near the Mirwaiz’s residence to stop the entry of his supporters into the house.Police personnel were deployed in strength in most pockets of downtown Srinagar.Mirwaiz castigated the ruling National Conference and accused them for “always scuttling the programmes framed by AAC for the last many decades”.