Restrictions tightened in Kashmir to quell protests
SRINAGAR: Restrictions were tightened in parts of Kashmir and mobile calling and internet services continued to remain suspended on Friday, two days after Hizbul Mujahideen’s operational commander Riyaz Naikoo was killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district.
Concertina wires and heavy deployment of security force personnel dotted the roads in Srinagar city and elsewhere in the Valley to ensure that only people with movement passes were out of their homes as authorities apprehended street protests against the killing of Naikoo.
Owing to Covid-19 restrictions on religious assembly of people, no Friday prayers were offered in major mosques of the city.
“Restrictions have been stricter in the city owing to the increase in number of Covid-19 infections and also due to apprehensions in the backdrop of Pulwama encounter,” said Srinagar senior superintendent of police Haseeb Mughal.
“So far the situation has remained peaceful,” he added. On Wednesday, Naikoo along with his accomplice were killed in an encounter with security forces at his native village in Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama.
Residents of Awantipora said there is heavy deployment of police, CRPF and army in Gulzarpora, Beighpora and its neighboring villages as authorities didn’t want any protests. “Since Wednesday’s encounter, security forces have remained here,” a local said. “There were no protests and the situation is calm,” said an official manning the police control room, Awantipora.
Authorities suspended 2G internet and calling services on mobile phones and only BSNL postpaid calling service was functional with no internet to prevent escalation of protests.
A senior police officer on condition of anonymity said mobile calling services will be restored at the earliest if the situation continued to remain peaceful. “It may take some more days for internet restoration,” he said.
In north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, some people decried that in some areas police were very rigid and did not allow people with genuine reasons to move out of their homes.
“I was on way to buy medicine for my mother when I was stopped by police and heckled. Even though I showed them a pass but they were too rude to listen,” a resident said.
Meanwhile, a police official was injured during clashes with people who came to offer Friday prayers at Nasrullahpora locality in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, an official said.
Budgam deputy commissioner Tariq Ganani said deputy superintendent of police Fayaz Shah sustained head injury when people attacked the police party who dissuaded them not to gather for the prayers in view of the Covid-19 lockdown.
“People had gathered for Friday prayers and when the police tried to disperse them citing lockdown restrictions, people resisted. The DSP has received some stitches on his head. A case has been registered,” the DC said.