Riyaz Ul Khaliq
KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Jammu and Kashmir government disallowed Hurriyat patriarch Syed Ali Geelani’s proposed ‘Srinagar Million March’ on Saturday.
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, addressed a rally of over 30000 people at SK Cricket Stadium here while severe restrictions were put in place to thwart any rally or disruption.
Geelani had announced the program after the announcement of PM’s visit to Kashmir. Modi announced a developmental-economic package of Rs 80000 Crore for J&K today.
The Hurriyat (g) chairperson had called for a peaceful march to TRC ground to counter the rally of PM Modi. However, a week before the PM visit, authorities had started detaining Hurriyat leaders and activists.
The proposed March was supported by JKLF and Hurriyat (m) as well, however, JKLF had called for a shutdown in case march was disallowed. Mirwaiz in his statement had called for a joint strategy.
Reports put the number of Hurriyat leaders and youth across valley behind bars at 2000.
Geelani, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Altaf Shah, Mirwaiz Umar were detained in their houses while Asiya Andrabi, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Shah, Nayeem Khan, Imtiyaz Hyder among others were arrested and lodged in different police stations.
On Friday as well, there were restrictions put in Srinagar parts with minimal movement on roads.
Heavy deployment of forces on Srinagar roads was made on Saturday while reports put number of cops manning SK Stadium at 30000. Restrictions were put in place and checking and frisking was intensified.
Geelani had tried to move out of his residence but was detained by police and subsequently lodged at Humhama police station. In nearby Hyderpora, youth raised slogans following which police swung into action and arrested Bashir Qureshi of Tehreek-i-Hurriyat and few others.
Unconfirmed reports from Old City said that youth in Chinkral Mohalla Habbakadal also held protests.
