KASHMIR PRESS SERVICE Srinagar: Amid shutdown, Kashmir Valley witnessed protests on Friday against the publication of sketches of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the latest issue of French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. US, French and Israeli flags along with the effigies of Charlie Hebdo Cartoonist Renald Luzier were set on fire at dozens of places by agitated protesters soon after the Friday congregational prayers. Cutting across party lines, almost all the separatist and religious organizations had appealed to the people to protest and observe shutdown against the blasphemes sketches of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) after Friday prayers across Kashmir. All the shops and business establishments remained closed while transport was off the roads. City Centre Lal Chowk presented a deserted look while the adjoining areas of Srinagar city also witnessed a complete shutdown. Police had sealed the Clock Tower with barbed wires and did not allow any group of people to gather there. Movement of people was also restricted in restive Maisuma locality of Srinagar city as police and Para-military troopers guarded the streets whole day and did not allow people to venture out from their houses. Amid protests, shutdown was also observed in other parts of Kashmir valley including Anantang, Pulwama, Pampore, Awantipora, Shopian, Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Bandipora Sopore, Pattan, Tangmarag, Bandipora, Hanwara and Kupwara. To foil any kind of protests, large contingent of police and Para-military troopers were deployed in restive areas across Kashmir. Despite stringent security arrangements, protestors clashed with police at various places amid tear-smoke shelling and stone-pleting. In centre-city, Lal Chowk, Saraibala, Hyderpora, Nowhatta, Alamgari Bazar, Ram Bagh, Channapora, Batamaloo, Nowhata, Khankha Mola, Safakadal, Saida Kadal, Habakadal, Soura, Rainawari, Pantachowk, Sonawar and in other districts and towns of Kashmir Valley, including Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag, Tral, Baramulla, Sopore, Bandipora, Budgam, Handwara, Kupwara and Pampore, people took to streets castigating the inflammatory anti-Islamic sketches and the nation where it was produced, that is, the France. A procession was taken out from Jamia Masjid Nowhata that was led by Awami Action Committee General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Zaki. Hundreds of people participated in the procession that was taken out soon after Friday congregational prayers. Angry protesters carried Islamic banners, green and black flags. They chanted pro-Islamic and anti-American, Israel and French slogans. The protestors set the effigies of Charlie Hebdo cartoonist on fire. West is the enemy of the people, the demonstrators shouted. They also yelled out, Yes, yes to Islam. Yes, yes to Quran and there is no God but Allah and Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is the last Massanger of Allah. Eyewitnesses said that the protestors clashed with police and Para-military troopers. Police used tear-smoke shells to disperse them. Protest marches were also taken out from Saidakadal, Rainawari, Safakadal and Soura. A big procession was taken out at 90 Feet Soura. The protesters there burned American and Israeli flags, while others put the photograph of Charle Hebdoo cartoonist on the ground and stepped on it to express their anger. Protestors clashed with police at Chinkral Mohalla Habakadal while police burst canisters to disperse the agitated youth who resorted to intense stone-hurling. Since Western countries especially America, France and Israel did not respect more than 1 billion Muslims all over the world, we should also teach Americans a lesson and tell them what we can do, an angry protestor said. Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation members also took out a peaceful march in Lal Chowk Srinagar, that was led by renowned trader Muhammad Sadiq Baqal. Carrying placards and banners that read, “Muhammad (PBUH) is our honour and we will die for Him”, the protestors demanded stringent punishment for the owners and editors of the Charlie Hebdoo magazine. Police did not allow the protestors to move towards Clock Tower and stopped them near Biscoe School. “You cannot write against Jews and Christians in West but you can freely spew venom against Islam. This speaks volumes about the double standard of West,” Baqal said. Police resorted to teargas shelling near Zainakadal Srinagar when protestors tried to move towards Bohrikadal. The procession march that was taken out from Khankah Mola was led by Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front vice chairman Advocate Bashir Ahmed Bhat and Zonal President Noor Muhammad Kalwal. “We were peaceful but were chased away by police without any provocation,” said JKLF spokesperson Ashraf Bin Salam. Protest marches were also taken out in different districts of South Kashmir after Friday prayers. Jamat-e-Islami supporters organized a protest march from General Bus Stand in Anantnag, that culminated at Mehandikadal. Some youth hurled stones on police near Reshibazar and Chenichowk, however, police swung into action and dispersed them successfully. Another peaceful protest march was taken out from General Bus Stand to DC office Anantnag that was headed by Hurriyat G district president Hafizullah. JKLF and Umat-e-Islamia jointly organized a protest march from Jamia Masjid Hanfia to Lal Chowk Anantnag. The protest march was led by Mirwaiz South Kashmir Qazi Yasir who denounced the action of French satirical magazine for showing disrespect to Islam. In Pulwama, JKLF district president Javid Ahmed Bhat and chief cleric Markazi Jamia Masjid Maulana Muhammad Akram Dar led a peaceful protest march and denounced the anti-Islamic policies of France. The protest marches in Shopian, Tral, Awantipora and Pampore also culminated peacefully. In North Kashmir’s Palhalan area, the protestors soon after Friday prayers clashed with police after the latter barred them from appearing on highway. Peaceful protest against the blasphemous caricatures of Prophet of humanity were also taken out in Sopore, Handwara, Baramulla and Kupwara, In Trehgam Kupwara, JKLF leaders Rafiq Ahmed Dar and Master Muhammad Afzal led a peaceful protest. Scores of youth also protested at mainchowk Handwara against the blasphemous sketches of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). A protest march was also taken out in Bandipora district. A biggest march was taken out from Central Kashmirs Budgam district in which people from hundreds of surrounding hamlets participated. Protesters set the photographs of Charlie Hebdo Cartoonist Renald Luzier on fire and called on Muslims from Arab Countries to get united. Peaceful protest marches were also taken out from certain parts of Ganderbal district. No Muslim can bear what is being told against our beloved Prophet (PBUH). We are not going to tolerate this,” said a protestor. A top police officer said that barring few minor incidents of stone-pelting no untoward incident was reported from any part of the Valley. There were protests against anti-Islamic sketches which passed off peacefully, he said. (With Inputs KPS]
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 17:18:16 +0000
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