Authorities foil separatist march to Martyrs graveyard in Indian-controlled Kashmir

The authorities on Friday imposed strict curfew and restrictions to foil separatist march to main Martyrs graveyard in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials and locals said.

The restrictions were enforced by thousands of Indian policemen and paramilitary troopers belonging to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) across almost all the major towns in Muslim majority areas of the region including Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Wearing full-roit gears and carrying automatic rifles, these men deployed along the deserted roads and alleys blocked main roads by laying down steel barricades and coils of concertina wires to restrict movement of people.

"The curfew has been extended to entire Srinagar and Pulwama besides towns of Shopian, Anantnag Baramulla, Pattan and Handwara," a police official said. "Restrictions have been placed at other places as a precautionary measure."

Friday's lockdown was tightened to stop gathering of people near Martyrs graveyard in the Eidgah grounds (an open field restricted for Eid prayers) on the call of region's separatist groups.

Senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were detained soon after they came out of their houses to lead the march. Both the leaders were whisked away by the police contingents and lodged in police stations. The authorities fear their participation in marches would mobilize huge crowds.

The authorities for the seventh consecutive Friday kept Jamia Masjid (grand mosque) in old part of Srinagar out of bounds for the general public. The government forces did not allowed Friday afternoon congregational prayers in the other central mosques also. Reports pouring in from other places said people offered prayers in smaller mosques and took out protest demonstrations.

Clashes broke out at several places in Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Ganderbal, Baramulla and Kupwara after protesters defied restrictions and took to roads to stage anti-India demonstrations.

Police and paramilitary troopers used teargas to disperse protesters and also fired pellets. Reports pouring in from these places said many people were injured in the clashes.

On Thursday Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh concluded his two-day visit to the troubled region. Singh told media the government would soon come up with an alternative to pellet guns, which are currently used to control street protests.

The death toll of civilians in the standoff has gone up to 66, besides injuries to thousands of civilians and hundreds of government forces personnel.

Large-scale protests against New Delhi's rule are going on in the Muslim majority areas of the restive region since July 8. The protests broke out following the killing of a top militant commander of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) Burhan Muzaffar Wani.

Despite prolonged curfew and restrictions to clampdown on protesters, clashes and protests continued even on the fiftieth consecutive day on Friday.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their Independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Endit