No relief for residents of Srinagar parts as restrictions continues

Srinagar: There was still no relief for the people of Shehar-e-Khas (SeK) and Down town, where curfew like restrictions continued for the 3rd day today, when separatists had called for a general strike against the visit of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who arrived here yesterday on a four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, restrictions also continued in Maisuma, stronghold of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) in the civil lines.
Both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, spearheading the agitation, have called for general strike against the visit of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who arrived here yesterday on a four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
However, chairmen of both the factions of HC Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq are under house arrest while JKLF chief Mohammad Yaseen Malik has been arrested and shifted to Central Jail, Srinagar.
The separatist leaders had announced to hold protest and later court arrest infront of the National Security Agency (N IA) headquarter at New Delhi yesterday against arrest of separatist leaders and businessmen by the investigation agency in connection with terror funding.
An official spokesman said that according to the District Magistrate (DM) Srinagar, restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC will remain in force under the jurisdictions of police stations Nowhatta, M R Gunj, Rainawari, Khanyar and Safakadal in the down town and SeK besides and Maisuma in civil lines in district Srinagar today as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident.
However, the situation on the ground was entirely different as security forces and state police personnel had closed all raods with barbed wire and directing people to remain indoor as curfew has been imposed in these areas.
All gates of historic Jamia Masjid remained closed for the third day today, where no Friday prayers could be offered due to restrictions.
Restrictions were imposed in the down town and SeK on Friday, when Muthida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), headed by chairman moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, had called for peaceful demonstrations after Friday prayers against the ethnic cleansing of “ Rohingya Muslims” in the Rakhine state of Myanmar. Mirwaiz, who was prevented from addressing Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid, remained under house arrest from September 7 evening.
Restrictions continued in these areas and extended to Maisuma also though there was no strike or protest call by separatists.
There was change in the situation on the ground as security forces and state police personnel had closed all roads with barbed wire and by parking bullet proof vehicles in the middle. Hundreds of state police and security forces, wearing bullet proof jackets and holding automatic weapons and lathis in their hands have been deployed in the down town and SeK. The entire Nallahmar remained closed and security forces were seen directing people to stay indoor. Security forces had closed the main roads and bylanes with barbed wire at several places, including Rajouri Kadal, Khanyar crossing, Rangar stop, Nowhatta, Bulbul Lankar, Bohri Kadal, Ali Kadal and Kadikadal. However, the main Safa Kadal road to S K Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura via Eidgah was open though security forces and state police personnel remained deployed in strength to prevent any stone pelting incident.
All gates of historic Jamia Masjid, stronghold of Mirwaiz, remained locked to prevent any gathering there. Security forces and state police personnel had been deployed in the Jamia market and outside to prevent people from entering the Masjid. Roads leading to Masjid at Rangar Stop from Khanyar side and Hawal from outskirts have been closed with barbed wire and nobody was being allowed to go towards Masjid.