The Hindu : Added security, endless jams

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 17, 2002

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Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

Added security, endless jams

By Our Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR JULY 16. The ongoing session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly is causing enormous difficulty to the people in Srinagar with endless traffic jams because of unprecedented security arrangements to prevent any possible militant attack on the Assembly complex that is located in the heart of the city and is surrounded by important places.

In order to make the session incident-free, the security set-up is holding the general public to ransom. The entire stretch of road connecting the central part of the city with the district headquarters has been closed for traffic that has been diverted to Amira Kadal. This has resulted in hour-long traffic jams near the Jehangir Chowk where the traffic from directions normally meets. No one, not even the ailing who have to reach hospitals in an emergency, are allowed to use the road sealed by the police. "Two infants who were suffering from fever were stuck up for two hours in the jam as there was no way to reach the children's hospital'', said a woman who was a victim of the police highhandedness. She said instead of making alternative arrangements, the police have been behaving in a harsh manner.

The people have been held hostage to ensure a smooth running of the Assembly session, the residents alleged. "They should have shifted the Assembly complex to Badamibagh Cantonment", said a resident. "We do not want such an Assembly which is a tool of misery, humiliation and harassment for us'', he added.

Pointing out the loophole in the security arrangements, a group of people stranded near the Assembly complex said the restrictions should apply to all people, including police officers, whose vehicles have been used by militants in the past.

Members of the Legislative Assembly and journalists were also critical of the security arrangements made by the police. "We are not only being frisked but we also have to wait for a long time in the scorching heat,'' said Sadiq Ali, a National Conference MLA. The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Malik Ghulam Haider, was also seen shouting at the security personnel who had kept him waiting outside the Assembly complex. Although special passes had been issued for journalists, they were stopped by the police and asked to take some other route.

Ahmed Ali Fayaz of `Daily Excelsior' was stopped at Lal Chowk despite possessing the requisite pass and humiliated by the police. The matter was later taken up with the Speaker, A.A. Vakil, who referred it to the Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah.

Dr. Abdullah apologised to journalists but said the security arrangements were necessary to prevent the militants from entering the House. Dr. Abdullah announced that no vehicle would be allowed into the Assembly premises from tomorrow and that even he would walk to the House from the gate.

After the October 1 attack on the Assembly, in which 38 people were killed, the authorities are not taking any risk.

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