Undeclared Curfew May Be Imposed in Kashmir on Friday

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Nov 13: The authorities may impose an undeclared curfew on Friday in Kashmir to prevent the ailing separatist leader from addressing an anti-election rally in Kashmir.

The ailing leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who was recently operated in the Indian capital, will return on Friday and straight away drove to the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) ground to address an anti-election rally.

The authorities have prevented the separatist leaders from addressing anti-election rallies. The separatist leaders have already called for a boycott of polls and owing to these boycott calls there has been no enthusiasm among the masses about the elections.

A top government official said that every measure would be taken on Friday to ensure that the law is not violated. "The deployment of police and para-military personnel will be increased in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir," he said.

However, a para-military officer said that an undeclared curfew may be imposed in Srinagar to prevent people from moving to the TRC ground in Srinagar to listen to the speech of the ailing separatist leader.

The government has already clamped down on the separatist leadership and has detained most of them under Public Safety Act (PSA). Under the act, a person can be detained for two years without any trial.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.

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