Pampore observes shutdown

Govt prevents separatists from assembling at Eidgah

Pampore township observed a complete shutdown on Thursday to commemorate the third death anniversary of Peoples League Chairman Shiekh Abdul Aziz.
Reports said that all the shops, business establishments and schools remained closed in the Saffron town, while there was partial movement of traffic on the roads.
Shiekh Abdul Aziz who hailed from Pampore was killed on August 11, 2008, at Tchal Uri when he was leading a procession towards Pakistan Administered Kashmir to protest against the economic blockade of Valley by rightwing activists in Jammu.
Reports said that scores of people took to the streets at Pampore this morning and tried to take out a protest march. Police and CRPF men resorted to baton charge to disperse the protesters, who retaliated with stones triggering clashes.
Meanwhile, all separatists including chairmen of both the factions of Hurriyat Conference were placed under house arrest.
Spokesman of Hurriyat (G) Ayaz Akbar said Syed Ali Shah Geelani continued to remain under house detention.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and several other leaders of theconglomerate were put under house detention to prevent them from assembling at Eidgah.
The amalgam had planned to offer Fateha-Khawani at Eidgah. However, Mirwaiz was released after 11:00 am.
Peoples League Chairman Mukhtar Ahmad Waza was also detained from a house in Wazirbagh area of the city this morning and lodged at police station Rajbagh. Another separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah was detained outside his Rawalpora residence and lodged at police station Sadder.
Other leaders Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Shahid-ul-Islam and Zaffar Akbar Bhat were also placed under house detention.
Besides it, large contingent of police and CRPF were deployed around Eidgah to foil the Hurriyat (M)’s program.