Curfew imposed in Srinagar again; separatists call for boycott of MLAs

Srinagar: Curfew was on Wednesday reimposed in parts of Kashmir including five police station areas of the city to thwart a separatist march to Kulgam district even as mobile services were partially restored in the Valley which has been rocked by violence since July 8.

Authorities had lifted curfew from Kashmir except Anantnag town on Tuesday following which it was rocked by fresh protests. Meanwhile, separatists called for social boycott of lawmakers and other activists associated with ruling Peoples’ Demcratic Party (Party) and other mainstream parties after dubbing them as “collaborators” in Indian “occupation”.

“People shall ostracize them and boycott them at all levels, socially and publically. People shall refuse to interact with them at community and public places. They shall no longer be allowed to exploit the people and the sacred freedom struggle,” a statement issued here by recently formed ‘issue-based’ alliance of separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik said. Earlier, Geelani was arrested by police after he tried to defy restrictions to march towards Kulgam district.