Kashmir curfew prevents worshippers from going to mosques

Indian troops enforced a strict curfew across Indian Kashmir on Friday, preventing worshippers attending mosques for prayers.

SRINAGAR: Indian troops enforced a strict curfew across much of Indian Kashmir on Friday, preventing many worshippers attending mosques for prayer.

The region has been hit by strikes, demonstrations and curfews over the killing of several civilians during the last month by Indian police and paramilitary forces struggling to control rallies and protests.

In Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir, police backed by paramilitary soldiers sealed off neighbourhoods with barbed wire and blocked roads with security vehicles.

"A strict curfew is in force in major towns and no one will be allowed to violate the restrictions," senior police officer Farooq Ahmed said.

The Jamia Masjid, the main mosque in Srinagar, was among the many mosques worshippers were unable to attend for Friday prayers.

A general strike has closed shops and offices since Monday.

Peaceful march at Rajouri

Meanwhile residents of Rajouri district took out a peaceful march to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir valley.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the demonstrators at Thanamandi, while condemning the recent killings in CRPF and police firing in Sopore, Baramulla and Islamabad towns, said that the residents of Poonch and Rajouri would not act as mute spectators.

We cannot ignore the brutalities and atrocities being committed against common people in the valley, they added.

Mandatory daily attendance at police stations

Also the residents of Srinagar have said that the police and paramilitary forces are harassing their wards by unnecessarily asking them to appear at local police stations.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the residents talking to media men in Srinagar said that youth were being asked to mark their attendance at the police stations everyday since past week when protests erupted against the killing of innocent civilians by Indian troops in the territory.

This is typical harassment. Why should a person appear at a police station everyday without any reason? asked the people in Srinagar.