Srinagar, October 7
After several days of uncertainty and two days of curfew restrictions that stalled the separatists’ march to Lal Chowk here yesterday, normal life was restored across the Kashmir valley today. As the day remained largely peaceful, the administration lifted the curfew from all 10 districts of the valley.
JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik, who had been held on Saturday last ahead of the Lal Chowk rally, has also been released.
While the authorities appreciated the people at large to have cooperated in the curfew imposition and maintenance of peace, separatist hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani thanked the people to maintain peace on the occasion. It was not a referendum, but to register protest and demand for the right of self-determination, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq of the moderate Hurriyat Conference said while condemning the government action.
The Coordination Committee comprising the separatist parties, social and religious organisations, lawyers and traders would be meeting here tomorrow to decide on the future course of action.
However, Geelani has pointed out that the Coordination Committee was aware of the problems being faced by farmers and student community due to the day-to-day situation and any further programme would be formulated keeping in view their problems, he said. The October 6 call for Lal Chowk rally had been given after the earlier march could not be taken out due to the preventive measures taken by the government on August 25. The separatists’ rally was to register its protest and demand for the right of self-determination, opening of all cross-LoC routes for free movement of people and trade and withdrawal of security forces.
The separatist Hurriyat Conference has also been demanding for the involvement of the people of the state for finding a peaceful and everlasting solution to the Kashmir issue.
