Section 144 CrPc imposed in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 4: The authorities have imposed section 144 CrPc in the summer capital and two other districts in the Kashmir valley since this morning to prevent people from marching towards Lal Chowk on October 6 on a call given by the Coordination Committee (CC), who had threatened to defy any restrictions.

The District Magistrates of Srinagar, Badgam and Pulwama have issued orders that section 144 CrPc has been imposed with effect from 0400 hrs this morning.

Under the restriction four or more people cannot assemble at one place. However, religious places and mosques and condolence meetings have been exempted, officials sources said.

Section 144 is already imposed in other districts of the valley.

The sources said the move was to prevent people from marching towards the historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital.

The CC, spearheading the present agitation in the valley, have appealed to people to reach Lal Chowk on October 6.

Demands included opening of all cross- Line of Control(LoC) roads for trade and free movement, release of all detenues and withdrawal of troops and special powers to security forces in the state.

The sources said the entire Chowk would be sealed from all sides, while CRPF and police personnel would be deployed in strength in the civil lines to prevent any gathering there.

The CC, an alliance of both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC), traders, lawyers and other separatist organisations had given the ''Lal Chowk chalo call'' on August 25. However, authorities imposed curfew in Srinagar and other major districts and arrested Chairmen of HC Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chief Mohammad Yaseen Malik along with more than 100 senior and second rank separatist leaders on August 24.

Majority of them are still under detention while about two dozen were booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA).

Ignoring the government restriction, the JKLF chief discussed the Lal Chowk march with other CC leaders at Maisuma headquarter last evening.

A number of committees were formed to regulate traffic, provide refreshment to participants from other districts.

Women were asked to assemble in the Partap Park here while no vehicle would be allowed beyond some points to avoid any traffic jam and confusion during the rally, which would start at 1500 hrs.

The meeting was told that people would defy all restrictions and reach the venue to participate in the what it said historic event.

UNI