Curfew-like Restrictions In Kupwara

Life remained crippled for the fourth day as curfew-like restrictions were extended to all major towns and tehsil headquarters in this frontier district, where security forces killed seven militants on February 24.

Restrictions continued in Lalpora while elsewhere in the Kupwara restrictions were extended following general strike called by breakaway Hurriyat Conference in the valley against these killings.

Locals alleged that seven militants killed by the Army at Dardpora were in fact locals who had gone to forest area for collecting herbs and hunting.

However, a senior Army officer and Deputy Inspector General of Police, North Kashmir dismissed these allegations and said all the seven were foreign militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Sources said restrictions continued in Lalpora to maintain peace in the area, where local police station was attacked, damaging the building and about a dozen vehicles set on fire.

People alleged that they were not being allowed to move out of their homes.

A large number of security force and police personnel remained deployed, directing people to remain indoor.

There were incidents of stone pelting on security forces from different parts of the town, including main market Kupwara, where life remained disrupted due to spontaneous strike with shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic off the roads during the past three days.

However, today being Friday, restrictions were imposed to prevent any law and order problem.

Army and police in a joint operation had killed seven militants at Dardpora Lolab.

However, locals at Lalpora alleged that seven people had gone to forest area and did not return. They were demanding that bodies should be handed over to them for identification.

DIG police J P Singh said the bodies were handed over to local Auqaf and buried after taking their photographs.

The breakaway Hurriyat Conference has called for a general strike against the incident.

Islami Tanzeem Azadi Abdul Samad Inquilabi has supported the strike call and condemned security force’s action on demonstrators in Kupwara.


(Free Press Kashmir)

Mirwaiz, Shabir Put Under House Arrest

Chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq and Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chief Shabir Ahmad Shah were put under house arrest while breakaway HC spokesperson was taken into preventive custody.

However, official sources said restrictions on separatist leaders were imposed to prevent any law and order problem today, when there is a general strike call in the valley.

A spokesperson for the HC said Mirwaiz was put under house arrest since this morning.He said a large number of security force and state police personnel had been deployed outside the Nigeen house of Mirwaiz to prevent him from moving out.

Shabir Shah has also been put under house arrest since last evening. Shah said he was informed that he cannot move out of his residence till further orders.

HC spokesman Ayaz Akbar was taken into preventive custody from a local mosque on Thursday evening, his family members said.


(EKNN)

Strike Cripples Life In Kashmir

General strike, called by breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) to protest against alleged suspicious killing of seven militants in the frontier district of Kupwara crippled life in the Kashmir valley.

Seven foreign militants of Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in a joint operation by the Army and state police at Dardpora Lolab in Kupwara on February 24.

However, locals alleged that they were civilians, leading to massive protests, police firing and bursting of teargas shells and imposition of restrictions besides strike since February 25 in Kupwara.

Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq sought an impartial probe into Lolab encounter and said that given the past experience of encounters that were later proved ‘stage managed’, a probe through an independent agency must be ordered into the Lolab encounter.


(Free Press Kashmir)