Restrictions, shutdown affect normal life in Srinagar

Srinagar, May 21 (IANS) Normal life in Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital was affected Wednesday by official restrictions and a separatist shutdown call.

Authorities imposed restrictions in seven police station areas of Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj, Kralkhud, Zadibal and Safakadal to thwart a separatist march to the Martyrs' graveyard in the old city Eidgah ground.

Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in full riot gear have been deployed in sensitive areas to maintain law and order.

Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat group, called the march to commemorate the death of his father Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq and another senior separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone.

While the elder Mirwaiz was killed by unidentified gunmen in his uptown Nigeen residence on May 21, 1990, Lone was killed in the Eidgah grounds on May 21, 2002 when he was addressing a rally.

Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has been placed under house arrest to prevent him from leading the march.

Shops, public transport, educational institutions and other businesses remained closed in Srinagar while government offices, banks, post offices and other public sector undertakings functioned normally.

No untoward incident has been reported from anywhere in the city so far.

Vehicles carrying tourists to Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam hill stations plied normally.

In the last two months, tourists have not been touched or their travel disrupted even during separatist called protests and shutdowns in the Valley.

People connected with the tourism industry and other trades that benefit from the influx of tourists to Kashmir have welcomed this development.

After horticulture, tourism is the most important industry that supports Kashmir's economy.