Srinagar: Ahead of their proposed march to violence-hit Sopore to express solidarity with the families of the youth killed in firing, authorities on Monday placed under house arrest several leaders of moderate Hurriyat Conference including its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
In view of the situation prevailing in the valley, Kashmir University and Board of School Education postponed all exams scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.
Besides the Mirwaiz, those placed under house arrest included JKLF chairman Yasin Malik and top executive members of the amalgam Bilal Gani Lone, Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari, Aga Syed Hassan Alsafvi Almosvi and advisor to the chairman Shahidul Islam, the sources said.
The separatists had called for "Sopore chalo" on Monday to express solidarity with the families of Shakeel Ahmad Ganaie and Firdous Ahmad Kakroo, who were killed allegedly in firing by CRPF personnel in the town on June 25.
Leaders and activists of hardline faction of Hurriyat headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani have already been arrested.
Although there were no restrictions on the movement of the people in the city, hundreds of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in the sensitive areas and along
Srinagar-Sopore road to prevent the march to Sopore, the sources said.
However, people took out small processions from their respective areas in the old city and are marching towards Sopore, the sources said.
A group of 1000 people had also assembled at Noorbagh locality in old city to march towards Sopore, they said.
Official sources said a complete shutdown was observed in Uri town of North Kashmir's Baramulla district. Markets were closed and traffic off the road in the border town to
protest the killing of youths in Sopore, the sources said.
In view of the tense situation in the valley, the government has already announced closure of schools and colleges for two days beginning on Monday.
"On the request of parents and as a precautionary measure, Director, School Education, Kashmir and Director Colleges have ordered that all schools and colleges shall remain closed for two days in Kashmir division beginning today", officials said.
The step comes in the wake of call given by hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference to students to wear black badges on Monday and Tuesday as a mark of protest against security forces.
Condemning the killings, Law Minister A M Sagar told reporters last night that Home Minister P Chidambaram should immediately visit Kashmir.
Referring to the killing of Bilal Agmad Wani in Sopore on Saturday, Sagar said it was unfortunate that just a day after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a meeting to ensure no innocent person is killed, one more youth was killed.
Comments
0 comment