Monday, October 06, 2008

Indefinite curfew imposed in Indian-controlled Kashmir


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Srinagar, Oct 5: All major towns and tehsils in the Kashmir valley were brought under indefinite curfew early today in wake of ‘Lal Chowk Chalo’ call for Monday by the Coordination Committee.

Official sources said curfew was imposed from 0430 hrs in the morning to prevent people from participating in the ‘Lal Chowk Chalo’ march called by the Coordination Committee (CC), spearheading the present movement in the valley. The CC is demanding, among other things, opening of all cross-Line of Control(LoC) roads for trade and free movement, release of all detenues and revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which provides impunity to the troopers operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

After holding five well-attended rallies from August 11 to August 22, Coordination Committee had initially called for ‘Lalchowk Chalo’ on August 25 but the government on August 23 clamped the curfew in all ten districts of the Valley for nearly 11 days and arrested more than 100 second-rung pro-freedom leaders during the curfew period. Many arrested leaders were booked under Public Safety Act and shifted outside the Valley.

Coordination Committee had postponed ‘Lalchowk Chalo’ for over a month in wake of holy month of Ramadhan.

Situation peaceful: Police

There was no report of any violation of curfew in the Valley, including Srinagar city. “The situation was by and large peaceful in all parts of the Valley and no violation was reported till late in the evening,” a police spokesman said.

However, reports said that a minor clash between the youth and policemen broke out at Nowahata in old city this morning. “The youth were dispersed and situation was brought under control within few minutes,” official sources said.

Pro-freedom demonstration in Varmul

Scores of youth defied curfew at old town Varmul in north Kashmir on Sunday and staged a pro-freedom demonstration.

Witnesses told Greater Kashmir youth raising pro-freedom slogans marched through the bye lanes of the old town this afternoon. However after the march protesters dispersed off peacefully.

Minor clash in Kulgam

Reports said that hundreds of youth tried taking out a pro-freedom demonstration at Kulgam in south Kashmir on Sunday morning. “Policemen and troopers intercepted the protesters and resorted to baton charge to disperse them. Protesters were dispersed and no one was injured in the police action,” official sources said.

Lal Chowk sealed

The historic Lal Chowk was sealed last night from all the sides. Besides, the CRPF and policemen had also been deployed in strength in the civil lines to prevent any gathering there, official sources said.

All the routes leading to Lal Chwok were sealed. Tin sheets and barbed wire were put around Ganta Ghar (Clock tower).

Gulmarg under curfew

Law enforcing agencies imposed curfew strictly in famous health resort of Gulmarg on Sunday. Reports said that policemen and troopers asked the shopkeepers not to open their shops and the tourists who were present in the health resort were directed to remain inside the hotels, and the huts they were putting up in. “This is for the first time that curfew had been enforced so strictly in Gulmarg,” a caller from the health resort told Greater Kashmir over phone
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He said that tourists present in Gulmarg were facing severe hardships due to curfew.

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