Train service remains suspended
Srinagar: On a day when the centre’s special representative Dineshwar Sharma is in Kashmir, life remained crippled in the valley, following a call given by joint resistance leadership for observing a shutdown against the alleged ill-treatment meted out to Kashmiri detenues in jails within and outside the state.
Fearing trouble, authorities imposed curfew-life restrictions in parts of the city, house arrested hurriyat leaders, detained some of them and deployed police and paramilitary forces in the nook and corner of the valley to maintain law and order.
The centre’s representative Dineshwar Sharma, who flew in here yesterday to meet the people in Pulwama, is scheduled to visit Anantnag for an interaction with the people in south kashmir’s most volatile district.
Business markets remained closed and traffic remained off the roads in civil lines and uptown city . Even the vendors were not seen on roads. The bus services and other modes of transport to district headquarters also remained paralysed in response to the call.
The train services between Banihal to Baramulla also remained suspended for the day as a precautionary measure. ”We have suspended train services in the valley on the advice from police,” a senior railway official said.
“This is for the 45th time rail services remained affected in the Valley, fully or partially, during current year so far.
However, in Srinagar, skelton private vehicles, besides cabs and three-wheelers, were seen plying on some selected routes.
All educational institutions remained closed and attendance in government offices was reported thin in the absence of transport.
Photo: Zargar Zahoor/INS
Authorities detained Hurriyat Conference (m) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq at his Nigeen residence, while octogenarian leader Syed Ali Shah Geelnai continues to be under house detention since 2010. Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was detained and shifted to central Jail.
Police also detained several Hurriyat Conference (G) leaders including Imtiyaz Haider, Mohammad Yasin Attai and Bashir Ahmad Bhat and lodged them in police station Budgam.
The resistance leaders have called for a complete shutdown today to show solidarity with the prisoners lodged in different jails in and outside the state.
Authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions in part of interior city to thwart attempts of protest. Police and paramilitary forces were deployed at all the entry and exit points of old city to restrict the movement in the area.
Restrictions under section 144 CrPc have been imposed in the areas falling under police stations of Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, M R Gunj and Safa Kadal. While partial restrictions have also been imposed in Maisuma and Kralkhud,” Srinagar district administration said.
Residents of downtown city told Kashmir Wire on phone that the police and paramilitary forces were not allowing them even to open the doors and windows of their houses, not to speak of venturing out of the houses.
Reports from district headquarters including Kupwara, Bandipora, Budgam, Shopian, Pulwama and Anantnag said partial hartal was observed in the districts. While shops remained closed in many areas, private vehicles were seen plying on the roads.
