Indefinite curfew was imposed in entire Kashmir on Sunday a day ahead of the separatists’ proposed “pro-freedom” march to Lal Chowk
SRINAGAR: Indefinite curfew was imposed in entire Kashmir on Sunday a day ahead of the separatists’ proposed “pro-freedom” march to Lal Chowk, even as the authorities launched massive crackdown against the leaders and some local media houses in a bid to thwart the programme on Monday.
All the 10 districts of valley were put under curfew in the early hours of Sunday after armoured vehicles of police fitted with speakers roamed through the streets and asked people not to venture out of their homes.
Policemen and CRPF jawans have been deployed in large numbers across the valley to prevent people from marching towards Lal Chowk on Monday. There has been no report of any violation of curfew from anywhere, police said.
District magistrate Srinagar Mehraj Kakroo said under section 144 CrPC, restrictions has been imposed on public assembly of five or more persons in territorial jurisdiction of district Srinagar for a period of one month.
Police also launched a crackdown on the separatist leaders and media houses since Saturday night arresting some of them and forcing the blackout of a local cable channel.
JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik, who was heading the 15-member organising committee of separatist-led coordination committee for Lal Chowk march, was arrested by the police when they raided his residence at Maisuma on late Saturday night.
“Police and other forces raided his house at 11pm on Saturday and took him into custody. He has been shifted to some unknown place. The JKLF condemns this undemocratic action of the Indian government,” said a JKLF spokesman.
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other second rung separatist leaders have been placed under house arrest to prevent them from leading the march on Monday.
Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani has been admitted to the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences after he complained of chest pain late Saturday night. The 79-year old was recently operated upon for kidney cancer in Mumbai where one of his kidneys has been removed.
“Doctors carried several tests on him. Later CT scan and x-rays were also done. His condition is stable and he has taken a cup of tea in the morning,” said a spokesman of hard-line faction of Hurriyat.
A local cable news channel, SEN TV, was taken off air after Srinagar district magistrate stopped transmission of the local cable network for alleged violation of provisions of the Cable TV Network (Regulation) Act, 1995.
“The channel has telecast objectionable material with an objective to incite people to disturb public peace. Despite repeated advice, the channel continued to put out objectionable material,” the order said.
h_ishfaq@dnaindia.net
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