KL Report
Srinagar
Strict curfew is in force in parts of Srinagar falling under nine police stations and CRPF personnel are seen everywhere around in the curfewed areas. Kashmir life Photographer Bilal Bahadur tells the tale how he managed to reach up to Jamia Masjid but not allowed to move beyond.
The first barricade I saw erected in the transport yard after I started my journey, Thursday morning along with ten professional colleagues. The CRPF men stopped us and after disclosing our identity, we were allowed to move forward.
Our destiny was Zadibal in the Alamgari Bazar locality of the old city. Khanyaar area was giving a look of a garrison. Everybody in uniform around and the CRPF man standing beside a barricade stopped us. A few CRPF personnel asked us a number of questions but allowed us to go.
In the meantime a couple of young girls appeared in the area and requested the alert CRPF personnel for permission to go towards Lal chowk area but they were not allowed and the girls were compelled to take reverse.
The view of the road from Khanyaar to Jamia Masjid was terrifying as CRPF personnel were alert to the extent as if in a war field.
We tried our level best to talk to any civilian but the curfew was imposed so strictly that we saw not a single civil soul. We had received some calls from Zadibal area about the ransacking but despite our repeated requests the CRPF men did not allow us to move beyond Nowhatta.
Pertinent to mention that District Magistrate, Srinagar had ordered imposition of indefinite curfew in parts of Srinagar city falling under the jurisdiction of police stations Nowhatta, Safakadal, Khanyar, Rainawari, Nigeen, Lalbazar, Zadibal, Parimpora and M.R. Gunj on Wednesday evening.
