On the second death anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack convict, Mohammad Afzal Guru, various separatist leaders in Srinagar were either apprehended or kept under house arrest to prevent any social unrest in the region.
Security measures were also taken to dismiss all possible turbulence in Jammu & Kashmir on Monda, 9 February.
Movement of people as well as vehicles were restricted at various places, including Safakadal, Maharaj Gunj, Khanyar, Rainawari and Nowhatta Police Station areas of the older part of Kashmir. Restrictions were also witnessed in the Maisuma Police Station area, situated in the core of the commercial hub of Lal Chowk.
"Restrictions under Section 144 CrPC have been imposed in these areas for maintaining law and order," Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Farooq Ahmad Lone told PTI reporters.
The police informed that the JKLF chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik, was taken into police custody and was kept at the Kothibagh Police Station. Malik was detained by the police force after a complete round of medical check-up from his Maisuma residence. He was later shifted to the Central Jail. This was a part of the security measure adopted by the city to avoid any untoward incident.
Other separatist leaders who were held by the police and put under house arrest were Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai and Ayaz Akbar.
The residents of old Kashmir told the media that both the police force and the paramilitary CRPF were spread in large groups across the state to prevent any protest staged by the members of the various separatist groups. Some lanes and by lanes were sealed by security personnel to keep a check on any suspicious movement.
