Indefinite curfew in Kashmir, other areas

Srinagar : Indefinite curfew was imposed in Srinagar and six other areas in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, a day after the Kashmir valley erupted in violence during the Eid festival, official sources said.

Besides the Kashmir valley, curfew has been clamped in Anantnag, Bijbehara, Pulwama, Kakapora, Sopore and Baramulla districts.

For the first time in twenty-two years of raging insurgency, Kashmir witnessed an Eid congregation turned into violent pro-freedom demonstrations as mob burned offices of power department, police crime branch, a guard post and government vehicles at Lalchowk and Hazratbul shrine areas.

” This sort of violence is a setback for starting a political process,” J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said blaming Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, leader of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference.

An FIR has also been lodged against Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for instigating violence and arson.

“Mirwaiz and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik sought permission for peaceful protests. We allowed them, but they have abused the trust and vitiated Eid,” the Chief Minister said.

With the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on Monday to make an announcement on Kashmir, the fresh violence in Srinagar might influence the decision heavily.

Omar Abdullah, who was in Delhi, blamed the separatists for not honouring their promise, and said this would be a huge setback to the peace initiative that was to be announced on Monday.

“We want confidence building measures to take place. I am here in Delhi trying to keep the confidence in the process alive. Such protests create problems for everybody else.How can you take this move forward if violence continues?” said Omar to a TV channel.

The violence in Srinagar on Saturday could severely hamper the proposed dilution of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), he said.