Day 150 : Government foils Lal Chowk March

5 Dariya News

Srinagar 05-Dec-2016

Authorities on Monday imposed curbs and restrictions in many parts of summer capital Srinagar to quell pro-freedom protests while city centre Lal Chowk was sealed from all sides and it was made out of bounds for the common people.Although section 144 of the CrPc (Criminal Procedure Code) is already in force in Srinagar, police officials said that restrictions had been imposed around Lal Chowk area to “maintain law and order”.The resistance leadership had called for Lal Chowk March on Monday. Roads leading towards Lal Chowk were sealed at different points including TRC, Amirakadal and Regal Chowk. The Valley remained shut with heavy security deployment in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir. All educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities remained shut while petrol pumps too remained closed.

Panic gripped in Batamaloo area of Srinagar city when government forces resorted to massive aerial firing and tear-smoke shelling to disperse the youth who continuously pelted stones on them at Reka Chowk, Lachhmanpora and Sheikh Dawood Colony.The bullets were fired in air to disperse agitated people who attacked police vehicles with stones,” eyewitnesses told CNS. They added all but four youth were arrested by police sparking protests.Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chief Yasin Malik was arrested to prevent him from leading a pro-freedom march in Srinagar. Malik was arrested outside the shrine of Dastgeer Sahab (RA) in Sara-e-Bala locality of Srinagar after he tried to march towards Lal Chowk.  All other separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Aga Syed Hasan, Shabir Ahmed Shah either had been placed under house detention or are in lockup.  A police official said that situation remained peaceful throughout Valley. (CNS)