Locals accuse Admin of back tracking from its promise
EARTH NEWS SERVICE|Srinagar, Jan 14 |16: Life failed to limp back to normalcy in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district after locals alleged that administration back tracked from its promise as police informed them that they will not be allowed to erect ‘Martyrs Memorial’ in the Shaheed Park. Pulwama was supposed to limp back to normalcy after continuous 14 days shutdown on Thursday, but during early hours groups of youth used public address system in the district informing people to carry on with shutdown. Grand Imam Pulwama Markazi Masjid Molvi Muhammad Akram Dar told that after a ‘successful’ meeting with Divisional Commissioner and Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone on Wednesday, we all had decided to call off the strike. “During the meeting the administration had agreed that people will be allowed to erect a simple ‘Martyr’s hoarding’ in the Shaheed Park. After the consultations with trades and other people we all had decided to call off the strike, but during late hours at around 10 pm on Wednesday, the top police officials of the district informed us that they have changed their idea and people will not be allowed to erect ‘Martyrs Memorial’ in the district. Accordingly I conveyed their message to the people who opt for continuous shutdown,” Dar said. “There are martyrs grave yards everywhere in Kashmir Valley and Martyrs Hoardings can be seen even at Martyr’s Grave Yard Idgah in Srinagar City. We fail to understand why administration is so reluctant when it comes to Pulwama,” said a trader. Reports said that to express solidarity with the people of Pulwama, scores of areas in the district including Kakapora, Pinglina, Pohu, Bonur, Newa, Karimabad, Pathan and Tahab also observed shutdown. Groups of youth blocked road in Kakapora and Pohu areas and disrupted movement of private traffic. Eyewitnesses told that police rushed to spot to disperse the youth; however, they continued to disrupt the traffic on the roads.
