Undeclared curfew again cripples life in Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 23: Life was crippled in the summer capital, Srinagar, and almost all other major towns and tehsil headquarters due to an undeclared curfew imposed by the authorities to prevent people from marching towards Ganderbal where polling was underway in two assembly segments.

The Coordination Committee (CC), spearheading the present anti- poll agitation in Kashmir, had appealed to people to march towards Ganderbal today.

All roads in the city and its outskirts were sealed with nobody being allowed to move.

A UNI correspondent, who visited several areas in the city, saw the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police personnel deployed after every few metres, guarding the deserted streets.

One portion of the Rambagh bridge on Srinagar-Airport road has been closed and vehicles, with valid passes, being allowed from one side after proper checking.

''We have instructions not to allow any unauthorised person to move towards the city, said a security force officer at the bridge after checking the pass of this correspondent, which has been issued by the State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) for covering the seven-phase assembly elections in the state.

Others, who had somehow managed to reach there on foot or in vehicles, were being turned back the only exception being the Haj pilgrims and patients.

Despite carrying his Id-card, a UNI staffer was directed to remain indoor when he tried to leave his Rainawari house for office this afternoon.

Similar reports were being received from other parts of the city where people alleged that security forces did not allow them to purchase household essentials like milk and bread. They said they had purchased vegetables yesterday.

Shops and business establishments in the city and outskirts, particularly the Sunday market where a sale of crores of rupees was being done, remained closed due to restrictions.

This was for the second time since Friday that the authorities imposed undeclared curfew restrictions in the valley.

Because of restrictions, only security force vehicles were plying on the otherwise deserted streets.

Reports received from different parts of the valley said the curfew had paralysed life with all activities coming to halt and traffic off the road.

UNI