Kashmir Valley Saturday observed a shutdown against the detention of senior pro-freedom leader Masarat Aalam Bhat under Public Safety Act (PSA) while clashes between youth and government forces erupted at several places.The call for shutdown was given by Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and was endorsed by various pro-freedom and militant groups. According to GNS correspondent, most of the shops, commercial establishments, schools, and colleges in Civil Lines and Old City areas were closed. The public transport was off in the City while private transport was plying normally. Due to shutdown, government offices and banks witnessed thin attendance.
Witnesses said to contain the protests, the authorities had deployed contingents of police and paramilitary forces in parts of the City including Saraf Kadal, Kawdara, Maisuma, Koker Bazar and Budshah Chowk.However, groups of youth took to streets in Habba Kadal, Kawdara and Saraf Kadal localities of the city and pelted stones on government forces triggering clashes. The clashes continued for several hours but no one was injured in these clashes when last reports came in.The shutdown against Aalam’s detention was also observed in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal and Budgam districts. The situation, however, remained peaceful in twin districts.
The reports of shutdown were also received from Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara districts of north Kashmir. At Palhallan, youth resorted to stone-throwing on government forces, locals told GNS, adding, the clashes continued intermittently for whole day but police didn’t resort to teargas shelling unlike yesterday. No one was reported injured when this report was being filed. Teargas shelling and clashes were also reported from HMT area this evening.Complete shutdown was also observed in south Kashmir districts including Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama.At Qaimoh in Kulgam, groups of youth attacked the local police station with stones triggering clashes between the two sides. The situation, however, returned to normal later.
Pertinently, Aalam was sent to Kot Bhalwal prison of Jammu after government slapped PSA on him this week on Thursday. Aalam was booked for “sedition” and “waging war against India” by police after he shouted pro-Pakistan slogans during a rally to welcome Geelani two weeks ago in Hyderpora. Aalam along with Geelani and others was also booked under Unlawful Activities act.
Meanwhile, Geelani has thanked people for observing shutdown against Aalam’s detention and termed it an “eye-opener” for coalition government of the State.Chief spokesman of Muslim League (ML) in a tele-statement to GNS said the police so far arrested nearly 14 of its leaders and activists while raided the houses of as many as five of its leaders.Rafiq Ganai, the spokesman of the ML, said the arrested persons include Javaid Ahmad Najar, Suhail Ahmad Kaloo, Mehraj-ud-Din Bangroo, Tahir-ul-Islam, Muhammad Ismail Mir and Muhammad Muzaffar Jan. “Besides, police raided the residences of Hakeem Showkat , Zahoor Ahmad Kanna, Assadullah Parray, Mufti Nadeem and Mehraj-ud-Din Nanda,” he said, adding, “the fresh spate of arrests started soon after the detention of Masarat Aalam.” (GNS)