Hurriyat leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik were taken into custody by the police on Monday when they violated restrictions and tried to lead processions towards the Army’s Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar to protest against the killing of seven persons during Saturday’s encounter with terrorists in Pulwama of South Kashmir.
Police burst teargas shells to disperse a mob led by Malik that indulged in pelting stones at the security forces in the Lal Chowk area. Malik was taken into custody and whisked away by the police.
The Mirwaiz was put under house arrest when he came out of his Nigeen residence to lead a march towards the Cantonment. Hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani is already under house arrest.
By organising the march, the separatists were trying to pit the civilians against the Army and other security forces.
The Army had yesterday urged the people to reject the call for Badami Bagh march given by Pakistan proxies and separatists.
Authorities had imposed curfew in Pulwama and six police station jurisdictions of downtown Srinagar to thwart the march. Restrictions were also imposed in other areas of Srinagar. The traffic police had sealed the roads leading to the Cantonment that also houses the headquarters of the 15 Corps.
Governor’s advisor (Home), K Vijay Kumar was personally camping in Srinagar since yesterday to monitor the situation. He held a meeting with top security officers to make elaborate arrangements to thwart the march.
Malik, who had gone underground since past two days, appeared in the Gaw Kadal area this morning from where he led the march. Police swung into action and burst teargas shells to disperse the mob. Women protestors also indulged in stone pelting at the security forces and raising anti-India slogans. Malik was taken into custody as soon as the procession reached near the Budshah Bridge.
On the other hand, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLC Firdous Tak and former legislators Aijaz Mir and Yawar Mir staged a protest in the civil secretariat at Jammu against the death of civilians in Pulwama.
PDP activists reportedly assembled in the secretariat canteen and marched in the complex demanding end to civilian killings. They were carrying banners and chanted slogans against the government.
Taken unawares about the protest in the secretariat, the IGP (Jammu) SD Singh Jamwal, rushed there to take control of the situation.
National Conference activists had yesterday organised a demonstration in Ganderbal against the civilian killings.
The state BJP has said that the firing by security forces in Pulwama was inevitable as the mob was indulging in stone pelting and did not disperse despite warning.
Meanwhile, Srinagar’s Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu, in a jibe at the mainstream parties in a series of tweets said, “Wondering about street protests against civilian killings by mainstream parties. Haven’t people died in the tenures of their successive governments? Why is the mainstream devolving itself to street theatrics when it should be evolving itself to offer an alternative? Absurd!”.
He said in another tweet, “The mainstream in Kashmir has a collective responsibility to NOT look at the unending cycle of death and suffering through political/partisan prism but to offer a consistent, alternative narrative of peace, reconciliation and resolution. Elections can’t be fought over graves”.