A separatists-backed shutdown marred normal life in the Kashmir Valley on Friday as authorities imposed security restrictions in parts of capital Srinagar to keep protesters at bay.
Meanwhile, Muzamil Ahmed Khan, the grandson of United Jehad Council (UJC) chief Syed Salahuddin, has been summoned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), evoking strong reactions from Hurriyat leaders.
All shops, business centres and private offices remained closed in the Valley in the wake of the separatists’ call for observing a “black day” over the Indian Army’s landing in J&K this day in 1947.
Authorities placed separatist leaders under house arrest on the occasion. Areas under seven police stations in the city, including Jamia Masjid, were placed under security restrictions.
The BJP celebrated ‘Accession Day’ in Jammu. “Our policy is crystal clear on Kashmir. The only unsolved issue in J&K is liberation of the parts of the State, illegally occupied by Pakistan,” Union Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh was quoted as saying in Jammu.
NIA summons again
Muzamil Khan, also the nephew of the recently detained Salahuddin’s son Shahid Yousuf, has been asked to present himself before the NIA in Delhi, said family sources.
Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Geelani described the summoning of Khan as an attempt “by the authorities to harass and scare the leaderships from representing the people and their just political struggle.” “Mr. Khan is a student and such actions are aimed at ruining his education,” said Mr. Geelani.
