Burhaan Bhat
SRINAGAR, OCT 23 (PTK): Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) and different trade bodies on Tuesday staged peaceful protests in Srinagar summer capital against the killings of civilians in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was detained by Jammu and Kashmir police after he defied his house arrest and tried to march towards Lal Chowk. “A large posse of police personnel deployed outside the Nigeen residence of Mirwaiz detained him after he defied his house arrest and tried to march towards Lal Chowk,” a spokesperson of the amalgam said.
Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry protested in City Center Lal chowk against the Kulgam Killings. The members of KCCI emerged in Lal chowk, marched holding banners that read ‘We demand structured, meaningfull and effective dialogue between leaders of India , Pakistan and Genuine representatives of our state.’
Jammu and Kashmir liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik was arrested near Clock Tower Lal Chowk as he defied restrictions to thwart JRL called Lal chowk march against Kulgam killings. Malik tried to lead a protest march from Hamza Masjid Kokar Bazar Srinagar but was quickly detained by already deployed posse of police.
Meanwhile restrictions were imposed in Srinagar parts and City center Lal Chowk was sealed by the government forces. Police and CRPF troopers were deployed around Ghanta Ghar to stop people from assembling. In wake of the proposed Lal Chowk march, the high-speed internet was also suspended by the authorities.
Kashmir trade body Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) also marched towards Lalchowk to register their protest against killings in Kashmir, especially the recent civilians killings in Kulgam district. Scores of the trade body members assembled outside the press colony in Lal Chowk and registered their protest against the civilian killings.
Besides the protest demonstration, the members of the KTMF body also held funeral prayers in absentia for the slain civilians and prayed for their departed souls.
Meanwhile, schools and colleges in many parts of the Valley were closed by the authorities amid apprehensions of protests by the students. Class work was suspended in most educational institutions in Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla and south Kashmir parts as a “precautionary measure”. (PTK)
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