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| Security arrangements reach crescendo on eve of PM's visit to JK | | Restrictions throw life out of gear in summer capital | |  Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Nov 6: Normal life was affected in the summer capital today as authorities imposed restrictions in downtown areas of the city and some of the areas falling in the uptown.
Skeletal movement of traffic was seen in the areas where there were no restrictions.
Restrictions were imposed in the areas falling under the police stations of Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Maharaj Gunj and Safa Kadal in downtown Srinagar.
Movement of people was also restricted in areas and localities falling under the police station of Maisuma. The restrictions virtually crippled life in the areas put under restrictions by the authorities.
Due to the restrictions congregational Friday prayers could not be offered at the historic Jamia Masjid here.
The restrictions were imposed by the authorities in order to thwart the proposed solidarity programme at the Jamia Masjid here on congregational Friday prayers. Chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had asked separatist leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mohammad Yasin Malik to join him in a show of solidarity.
Both Geelani and Malik had accepted the invitation and in fact Geelani had asked people to take part in the solidarity programme in a big number. However, authorities placed Geelani under house arrest and arrested Malik from his Maisuma residence and shifted him to the Kothi Bagh police station.
The enforcement of restrictions in downtown Srinagar and Maisuma led to shutdown in most of the commercially important areas falling in the uptown Srinagar. Shops and business establishments remained closed in Hari Singh High Street, Court Road, Lal Chowk, Koker Bazar, Maisuma, Gaw Kadal, Madina Chowk and Abi Guzar areas.
However, some of the shops remained open in areas like Residency Road, Regal Chowk, Lambert Lane and Polo View. Very few passenger vehicles could be seen on roads in the civil lines area and the life seemed to have come to a grinding halt.
However, the life was almost normal in the areas in the other areas but there too the traffic movement was less.
At the same time security has been beefed up across Kashmir valley more so in the summer capital on the eve of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi's one day visit to the state on November 7. Modi would address a public rally at Sher-I-Kashmir Cricket stadium and interact with some delegations during his brief stay in Srinagar. He will later on fly to Chanderkote-Ramban in the Jammu division.
Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel could be seen manning the roads and streets in Srinagar in order to ensure that fool proof security arrangements are in place for the visit of Prime Minister. Passenger and private vehicles were stopped by the police personnel and the people boarding the vehicles were put to questioning. Checking of the vehicles was also carried out by police and CRPF personnel.
Following Thursday evening's grenade attack on CRPF camp in Munawarabad area extra security measures were put in place in areas falling in the vicinity of cricket stadium.
Since separatists have given a call for million march on Saturday authorities have arrested around 300 separatist leaders, activists and former militants in order to foil the march.
The venue of the PM's rally has been sealed by police and other security agencies.
Special Protection Group (SPG) has already taken over the control of the venue and as such nobody is allowed to enter the cricket stadium. There seems to be tension in the air and people as well as security agencies are keeping their fingers crossed with respect to PM's programme in Srinagar. |
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