All roads leading to Pampore to offer fateha to Hurriyat leader

Srinagar, Aug 16 (UNI) Lakhs of people from all parts of the valley are heading to Pampore, about 12 km from here, on a call given by both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) where a condolence meeting will be held after offering fateha to senior separatist leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz.

Sheikh was killed on August 11 when police opened fire at Boniyar on a procession heading towards the Kaman post, the last Indian military post on this side of the of Line of Control (LOC) on a Muzaffarabad march call given by the Hurriyat and Kashmir Fruit Growers (KFG) Association in protest against alleged economic blockade and attack on Muslims and Kashmiri drivers in Jammu.

Chairmen of both the Hurriyat factions Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq would address the mourners.

People from all walks of life, particularly the youth, were heading towards Pampore in heavy and light vehicles, cars, scooters and motorcycles.

Holding black and green flags, they were raising pro freedom and anti security force and police slogans besides Hindu fundamentalist organisations.

To avoid any confrontation with the Army, the authorities had closed the Sonawar-Batwara-Pantha Chowk route for the processionists as it passes through the high security cantonment area.

However, vehicles were asked to take longer bypass route to reach Pampore to avoid the cantonment route.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police personnel deployed at some places on Srinagar-bypass-Pampore road.

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