Srinagar
The commercial hub of Lal Chowk, Srinagar, has been declared out of bounds for any civilian movement to foil protest march by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) against Kulgam killings on Sunday.
All roads and bylanes leading to the historic chowk have been closed with barbed wire and a large number of state police and Paramilitary military forces, have been deployed to foil ‘Lal Chowk Chalo’, called by the JRL.
Police said restrictions have been imposed in some areas under police station Kothibagh, including Lal Chowk.
Meanwhile, traffic police has also issued an advisory that no traffic movement will be allowed from Regal Chowk to Amira Kadal bridge due to restrictions.
Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, traffic spokesman said,’Movement of traffic will be restricted on Tuesday on Regal Chowk-Amira Kadal Bridge Road. Commuters are requested to use the alternate routes to reach their destinations. He further tweeted that ‘Commercial vehicles travelling to #Srinagar city from #SouthKashmir and #Pantha chowk shall not be allowed via #Sonwar on Tuesday. Instead, they can navigate via #Bypass-Nowgam or #Sanatnagar road as an alternate route.’
Security forces have closed Amira Kadal bridge with barbed wire at Hari Singh High Street (HSHS) leading to Lal Chowk and people, including pedestrians, were directed to take Budshah bridge to reach their destination.
Similar restrictions have been placed at river Jhelum bund, Koker Bazar, Court road, Regal Chowk, exchange road, Maisuma, Haji Masjid, KMDA, and Abi Guzar.
The footbridge on river Jhelum, leading to Lal Chowk, has also been closed and nobody was being allowed to cross it from Lal Mandi side.
Business and other activities remained paralysed for the second day on Tuesday in the restriction-free areas in the civil lines, including main hubs. Yesterday, life was affected due to a strike called by JRL.
