Indian-controlled Kashmir authorities impose restrictions to thwart separatist march

SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Curfew-like restrictions were imposed Friday in many parts of Srinagar and southern Anantnag district in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The restrictions were imposed to prevent a separatist rally in Anantnag town, 55 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The region's joint separatist leadership headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, have called for a rally in Anantnag town.

The separatist leadership urged people to march towards Anantnag to "demonstrate before the whole world what people of Kashmir stand for."

The leadership said the government's response to the march would be "the litmus test for the claimants of Indian democracy."

Contingents of Indian police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed to enforce restrictions. The government forces in Anantnag have closed all roads leading to the center of town with barricades and concertina coils.

"The restrictions were put in place to maintain law and order in the city as well in Anantnag," said a police official posted in Srinagar. "We can't allow people to deteriorate peace in the region."

Authorities have suspended domestic rail services running from Srinagar to Bannihal and snapped Internet on mobiles, fearing it would mobilize crowds to participate in the separatist rally.

Police have kept Geelani and Farooq under house arrest, while Malik has been lodged in central jail Srinagar. It has also arrested some separatist leaders to prevent their participation in the scheduled rally.

Authorities fear participation of the separatist leadership would intensify the region's anti-India protests.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the psyche of majority of Kashmiris. Irate residents often take to roads and clash with police.

A separatist movement and guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian- controlled Kashmir since 1989.

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. Enditem