Army stages flag marches;strict curfew in Srinagar
PTI
SRINAGAR, JULY 7
The Army today staged flag marches in tension-ridden Srinagar as curfew was strictly enforced in the city and other places in the Kashmir Valley, which witnessed a fresh spate of clashes between protestors and security forces that had left three people dead.
Requisitioned by the State authorities late last night, the Army moved in 17 columns (about 1,700 personnel) into various parts of the city.
Srinagar, which was bustling with tourists before the trouble started, looked like a lifeless city with empty streets, closed shops and deserted shikaras amid the heavy presence of security forces.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over phone and briefed him on the law and order situation in the Valley.
Omar apprised the Prime Minister about the steps being taken in restoring normalcy which included cracking down on mischief-makers and miscreants, sources said.
The Chief Minister also spoke twice to Home Minister P Chidambaram and also to Defence Minister A K Antony about the developments.
Union Home Secretary G K Pillai, who flew in here from Delhi along with Director General of Military Operations Lt Gen A M Verma to take stock of the situation after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, met the Chief Minister and reviewed the overall law and order situation.
Pillai assured the Chief Minister of complete support of the Centre in maintaining peace in the Valley. The Home Secretary also chaired a meeting of officials of CRPF, Army and State Police and Intelligence Bureau.
The Kashmir situation was discussed at the CCS meeting chaired by the Prime Minister. It was decided that Army would be deployed only in the “periphery” and not in the congested areas of Kashmir.
The CCS favoured “maximum crackdown” on miscreants who had contributed to the deterioration of the current situation in the valley.
It was also made clear that army has been deployed in Srinagar for “deterrent effect” and the decision to place it in specific areas would be done by the civil administration.
In the afternoon, the State police arrested President of Kashmir Bar Association Mian Qayoom under the stringent Public Safety Act.
Curfew was also in force in Anantnag, Pampore, Pulwama and Kulgam in South Kashmir and Kupwara and Bandipore in North Kashmir. Restrictions have also been imposed in Sopore and Baramulla where the Army staged flag marches.
The Army was called out in Srinagar late last night to enforce the curfew, keeping in view the non-availability of adequate number of police personnel, many of whom have been deployed for Amarnath Yatra and counter-insurgency operations, official sources said.
Protesters had yesterday clashed with security forces at various places.
On the deployment of the army in Srinagar, State minister and Congress leader Taj Mohiuddin said, “We requested the Army to help us in maintaining peace. Peace is our first priority. They will be the supportive force we need for keeping peace.”
Police vans fitted with public address system announced imposition of curfew this morning and also advised people to remain indoors. Curfew passes issued to journalists were cancelled.
The Chief Minister made a fresh appeal to the people to maintain calm and not to violate curfew restrictions.
Meanwhile, State Law Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar asked people to respect the curfew restrictions.
“We will strictly implement the curfew restrictions. Government will try its best to restore normalcy. We are trying our best to normalise the situation,” he said.
Referring to stone-pelting protesters, he said, “Some elements, some agencies were getting the youths on the roads for implementing their political agenda. So we are trying our best to control the situation. It is just the question of saving the people from this situation.”
The State government has advised deputy commissioners throughout the valley to enforce prohibitory orders in their respective jurisdiction. They have also been instructed to impose curfew wherever necessary, an official spokesman said.
Slamming the decision to deploy army, major opposition party PDP said by taking such a step, the State government had abdicated its responsibility.
Top PDP leaders, led by patriarch Mufti Mohammad Sayed, met here and took stock of the situation in the valley.
“The government has not been able to perform its fundamental duty of protecting the lives of citizens,” a PDP spokesman said in a statement.
“It is ironical the State government has requisitioned army to fight unarmed citizens at a time when in other States a consensus has been arrived not to use defence forces even against highly armed and trained fighters.”
The spokesman said the “move is fraught with danger and adds to the long list of negative signals” emanating from the government.
