Srinagar: A complete shutdown is being observed in Kashmir Valley against the “arbitrary mass arrests, nocturnal raids, insecurity among people, killings, censorship and any tampering with Article 35A”.
The authorities have also imposed restrictions in Rainawari, Nowhatta, Khanyar, M.R. Gunj and Safa Kadal areas.
Reports said heavy contingents of state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed across the city to maintain “law and order.”
Besides, shops and other business establishments are closed while traffic is mainly off the roads.
The call for the shut was issued yesterday by Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) following “arbitrary” arrest of JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik and mass crackdown on Jama’at-e-Islami.”
Yasin Malik, who is part of JRL comprising Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was picked up by police from his Maisuma residence while over 200 Jama’at members including its Ameer Abdul Hamid Fayaz were also arrested.
Geelani and Mirwaiz in a statement issued here said that as the Supreme Court is hearing the case regarding Article 35-A next week, the mass crackdown is “an indication of what may be expected”.
JRL strongly condemned this “dictatorial policy of cracking the whip and arbitrary arrests”.
The deployment of additional 12000 paramilitary forces on an urgent basis also indicates that something is cooking in this regard, the leaders had said.
“The challenge to hereditary state subject law is an extremely important issue for the people as it is akin to our very existence as a people and directly linked to the Kashmir dispute, JRL said, adding, “The people and pro-people leadership of J&K are one on this.”
