Police foil Geelani’s ‘UN Chalo’

Police foil Geelani’s ‘UN Chalo’

Police imposed restrictions in Hyderpora and Sonwar areas to foil Hurriyat’s march to the UN Office in Srinagar. The Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani had asked his supporters to assemble at his residence and later march towards the UN office at Sonawar here for submitting a memorandum addressed to the Secretary General of the world body Ban Ki-moon about the human rights violations by armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir, including the recent Shopian killings by CRPF.

Early Wednesday morning, police and paramilitary personnel cordoned off Geelani’s Hyderpora residence to prevent his supporters from assembling there, reports said.

The forces, they said, laid concertina wire at exit and entrance points leading to Geelani’s residence. Geelani came out of his house in the morning to lead the march. But, sources said, policemen detained him and shifted him to Humhama police post.

In Hyderpora, police burst tear smoke shells to disperse dozens of supporters of Hurriyat Conference (G) who had appeared near Jamia Masjid and tried to march towards the UN office. They were chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans

The police action triggered panic in the area and shopkeepers downed their shutters while traffic movement was also disrupted for quite some time.

Soon after the police action in Hyderpora, youth in dozens hit the Airport Road and pelted stones at police and CRPF. The forces chased the youth by bursting tear smoke shells. The pitched battles continued till evening.

The residents of Hyderpora and Peerbagh areas alleged that the forces smashed windowpanes of several houses and other buildings with stones. 

Large contingent of forces also cordoned the UNMOGIP office in Sonwar area here. People were not allowed to move freely in the area while devotees who intended to visit a revered shrine in the area were not permitted in.

All roads leading to the UN office were closed with razor wire and traffic was also diverted. The forces laid razor wire at Dalgate Chowk and erected barricades to stop the movement of people and traffic.

From Sonwar-side forces laid razor wire and erected barricades near Gupkar road.  The by-lanes leading to UN office were also sealed.

Though no barricades were laid in other parts of Srinagar, almost all parts of the city witnessed heavy deployment of forces.

The top leadership of Hurriyat (G) was put under house arrest, including Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai and Dr G M Ganie. Firdous, Muhammad Abdullah Sheik and dozens of party activists were arrested during the raids last night to prevent them from marching towards UN office, reports said.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police (Central Kashmir) Syed Afadul Mujtaba told Greater Kashmir that in view the Chalo call, limited areas were put under restriction. “Our aim is not cause any inconvenience to general public,” he said adding, “but police will never allow anybody to disrupt peace.”