Restrictions continue in Srinagar, Palhallan for 3rd day

SRINAGAR: Restrictions continued in parts of Srinagar city and Palhallan area of Baramulla district for the third day today following the death of a youth in security forces' firing during protests marking the second death anniversary of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru.

Curfew-like restrictions continued in Safakadal, Maharaj Gunj, Khanyar, Rainawari and Nowhatta police station areas in the old city and Maisuma police station area in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk, a police spokesman said.

Restrictions also continued in Palhallan area of Baramulla in north Kashmir where Farooq Ahmad Bhat, 19, was killed and another was injured in security forces firing during a protest on Monday, he said.

Restrictions under Section 144 CrPC remain in force in these areas for maintaining law and order, the spokesman said.

Police and paramilitary CRPF have been deployed in large numbers while many lanes and bylanes have been sealed by concertina wires to prevent people from pouring out on main roads, officials said.

The restrictions under Section 144 CrPC were imposed on Monday as separatists had planned to stage protests to mark Guru's second death anniversary and demand the return of his mortal remains.

Heavy deployment of police and paramilitary CRPF has been made at Palhallan and adjoining areas to prevent a flare up in the situation in view of the killing, the officials said.

Life in rest of Kashmir Valley was also affected as separatist groups called for a strike to mark the 31st death anniversary of JKLF founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat.

While Guru was hanged on February 9, 2013 inside Tihar Jail, Bhat was sent to the gallows inside the Delhi Jail on February 11, 1984.

Commercial establishments were closed in the city here and other major towns across the Valley and public transport remained off the roads due to the strike.

JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was detained on Sunday and sent to Central Jail, Srinagar while several other top separatist leaders have been placed under house arrest.

Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai and Ayaz Akbar are among the leaders put under house arrest to prevent them from staging any protests.