| Ahead of PM's visit, 200 persons detained in Valley | | |
Javaid Naikoo
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Nov 4: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Kashmir visit on November 7, the police have detained more than 200 persons, mostly separatist leaders and their supporters, and shifted them to various police stations and jails.
According to details, 30 persons have been detained in Baramulla district, 21 in Srinagar, 16 in Budgam, 27 in Pulwama, 17 in Shopian, 11 in Anantnag, 14 in Kupwara, 8 in Bandipora, and 2 in Ganderbal.
Besides, around 100 people, mostly stone-pelters and former militants, have been rounded up in Srinagar, Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam and Ganderbal districts.
"These people have been detained to ensure that Prime Minister Modi's Kashmir visit passes off peacefully and that no anti-India protests are held during his visit," a top police official told Early Times on the condition of anonymity.
He said the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway is likely to be closed on November 7 for security reasons.
Sources said the 300-km highway would be either closed completely for vehicular movement or there would be restrictions on civilian vehicles on November 7.
"Besides, authorities are also likely to impose restrictions on movement of people in hyper sensitive areas. Drop gates would be put up and cordon and search operations would be intensified to avoid any law and order problem," said sources.
Notably, the hardline Hurriyat led by Syed Ali Geelani has called for a 'million march' at TRC ground, next to the venue of Modi's public rally on November 7.
Senior separatist leaders Shabir Ahmad Shah and Nayeem Khan on Wednesday said that "despite arrests and restrictions, the 'million march' program will be organized at any cost."
Terming the crackdown on separatist leadership as a "blot on the face of State administration," Khan said, "On one hand the Government continues to shower praises on Modi despite his anti-Muslim attitude and on the other they have turned whole Kashmir into a jail."
Modi is scheduled to inaugurate 450 MW second phase of the Baglihar power project and Shaheed Amarnath Bhagat Skill Development Institute in Baglihar at Ramban before taking off for Srinagar to address a public rally here at Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium where he is expected to announce an all-inclusive economic package for the State. |
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