KL Report
Srinagar
Amid stone pelting incidents, processions were taken out even as funeral prayers in absentia were held for Markundal slains across the valley.
To thwart any protest demonstrations, the authorities deployed police and other forces in every nook and corner of Kashmir.
The police did not allow Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for prayers in historic Jamia Masjid and put him under house arrest at his Nigeen residence. All other separatist leaders were also placed under house arrest while few of them were lodged in different police stations.
Funeral prayers in absentia were held at Batamaloo, Amirakadal, Hyderpora, Barzullah Bhagat and other places including Bandipora, Baramullah, Pulwama, Shopian and Tral soon after Friday prayers. Large contingent of police and Para-military troopers were deployed in Srinagar city to thwart any kinds of protests. People responded to the call of Hurriyat Hawk Syed Ali Geelani and observed shut down for two hours. Shops and other business establishments remained closed.
Processions were taken out in Baramullah, Bandipora, Tral, Naidkhai and Hajin after Friday prayers. At Hajin and Naidkhai agitated protestors resorted to heavy stone pelting while in response police used tear smoke shells to disperse the protestors.
Media persons covering violent incidents at Naidkhai alleged that a particular police officer manhandled them and used abusive language. “We were covering the procession that was taken out by youth soon after Friday prayers at Naidkhai when one police officer misbehaved with us and stopped us from performing our duties,” a photo journalist told CNS.
Large number of people took to streets in South Kashmir’s Tral town and raised pro-freedom slogans. Protestors were demanding stringent punishment for the killers of two youth killed at Markundal Sumbal.
A police official told CNS that by and large the situation remained peaceful in the Valley. “Few stray incidents of stone pelting were reported from few places. Police showed restrain and did not let situation to get out of control,” he said.
