Curfew triggers confusion in City

Srinagar: Despite the assurances of Deputy Commissioner, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police on Wednesday enforced curfew in several localities of Srinagar triggering chaos and confusion among the residents. Reports and Press Bureau of India that the residents of Srinagar city, particularly uptown and old city were taken by surprise when CRPF and police enforced strict curfew this morning and prevented the people from venturing out of their houses despite the assurance of the district administration that curfew will not be imposed on Wednesday. At many places, people were trying their best to convince the troops and police that curfew was not in force. However, the forces did not heed to their pleas. “I was shocked when CRPF and troops prevented me from leaving for work. They told me curfew was imposed in the city,” Mehraj-ud-din Khan, a trader said. “It seems that the coordination between police and civil administrations is not well. Ultimately, people are at the receiving end,” he added. Forces also used batons to calm down the people who entered heated arguments with the former. At Buchpora, a ninth standard student was injured in CRPF action. Reports and eyewitnesses told Press Bureau of India that Abid Mushtaq received serious eye injury when CRPF men hurled marbles using slingshots upon him when the schoolboy was enquiring about the imposition of curfew in the area. The injured youth was rushed to hospital by the family for treatment. wever, the boy is believed to have lost eyesight in the incident. However, later in the day, curfew was relaxed in almost all the areas of the uptown and old city. All shops, offices, petrol pumps, banks and inancial institutions resumed their work while the transport returned to all the roads. The relaxation in curfew also brought out thousands of shoppers to various markets across the city. Meanwhile, a police spokesman said that curfew restrictions were completely lifted from Budgam, Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Kupwara, and Bandipore districts. The spokesman said that curfew was also lifted from Kangan, Awantipora, Sopore, Ganderbal, and Handwara areas. “Curfew restrictions were relaxed from East, West, and South Zones of Srinagar City early this morning from 8 am to 10 am, which were further extended. In North and Hazratbal Zone restrictions were relaxed from 1 pm onwards,” the spokesman added. Earlier in the day protests broke out in Wanbal area against the arrest of youth. Reports said, scores of men women and children took to streets at Wanbal and staged demonstrations to protest the arrest of youth by police in the recent days. Chanting slogans, the people were demanding the release of two youth Zahoor Ahmad, son of Abdul Gani Tantray and Abdul Majeed Dar. “Police barged into our house last week and arrested my andicapped son on charges of stone pelting. Now, a senior police official is demanding Rs 60,000 for my son’s release,” alleged Abdul Gani, whose son Zahoor Tantray is in police custody. “My son is innocent. How can a physically challenged youth pelt stones on police and run away? Asked.