Rehan Showkat
Srinagar : A protest march to army headquarters at Badamibagh here, called by Joint Resistance Leadership, was foiled by authorities by imposing restrictions in parts of this summer capital of the state and south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
The JRL leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik had called for a shutdown and march to army’s 15 Corps Badami Bagh headquarter in wake of the killing of seven civilians post a gunfight in Pulwama on Saturday last.
“As Government of India is only interested in our territory and forcibly holds on to it while systematically eliminating the people, it is better that they finish us off at once and that is why leadership has asked GoI to do that as we march towards their army headquarters in Badami Bagh on Monday. Or else stop the killings and massacres and resolve the dispute and save human lives,” The JRL had said.
Reacting to the call, the authorities imposed restrictions in Ram Munshibagh, Rainawari, Khanyar, Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj and Safa Kadal areas along with Maisuma and Kralkhud. Tough restrictions were also imposed in Pulwama district.
The authorities also sealed the chairman Syed Ali Geelani’s residence to prevent him from marching towards the Badami Bagh army base.
‘Police did not allow (Geelani) to come out of his residence as they had sealed the main gate of his residence from outside,” said a spokesman of the amalgam.
Chairman of Hurriyat Conference Hurriyat (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was detained as he tried to defy defied house arrest and tried to march towards Badami Bagh.
Reports reaching GNS said that Mirwaiz came out of his Nigeen residence and tried to march along with dozens of his supporters towards the Badami Bagh base.
However, a police contingent deployed near his residence thwarted the march and detained the Mirwaiz and his supporters.
Police also detained Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik as he tried to march towards the army headquarters in Srinagar.
Malik had gone underground to evade arrest from last few days and he was detained at Budshah bridge after he took out a march towards Badami Bagh army base.
Malik took out a march from Gaw Kadal along with his supporters and included women and as soon as he reached Budshah bridge police swung into action and fired tear gas shells to foil the protest. Later Malik was taken into custody. (GNS)
