Curfew, restriction brings Srinagar to halt, prevent UN march in Srinagar

Srinagar, Feb 08,: Srinagar and major towns of the valley remained shutdown for the eight day running on Monday after two young Kashmiri boys were killed within a span of a week by Indian armed forces in Srinagar city. The authorities imposed strict restrictions in Srinagar, today, to prevent the march towards the United Nations Observers’ Office, call for which had been given by the All Parties Hurriyet Conference Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. The march was intended to draw world attention towards the recent killings of teenagers by Indian police personnel in the occupied territory.

A curfew-like situation was created again in major parts of the city areas by authorities enforcing strict restrictions and confining people indoors in order to scuttle proposed Hurriyat sponsored march to UN office here. Road barricades and grills of razor-fitted concentrina wires were used, today, by the authorities to obstruct pedestrian and vehicular movement in Srinagar. All banks, markets, public transport and businesses remained closed.

The shutdown had begun on Monday last week after 13-year-old Wamiq Farooq of Rainawari was killed by a police tear gas shell in the Gojwara area on Sunday.

Violent demonstrations against the killing continued for the rest of the week as unknown forces, who were said to have issued a four-day strike call, ensured an unbroken shutdown.

Tension over Wamiq’s killing was ratcheted up on Friday after paramilitary troopers shot dead a 17 year old boy, Zahid Farooq, in the Nishat areas on the Boulevard.

The unprovoked killing set off another round of vehement protests and violence as residents of the area, coming out in their thousands, demanded withdrawal of troops  and solution of Kashmir dispute.

APHC leaders and activists were arrested in Narbal when they tried to proceed towards the United Nations Office. The Mirwaiz Manzil in Rajouri Kadal was ransacked and the inmates were subjected to torture. Agencies