Strict restrictions in Srinagar on death anniversaries of Molvi Farooq, Ghani Lone

SRINAGAR — The authorities on Friday tightened the COVID-19 curfew in Srinagar district on the eve of death anniversary of Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone, which is being marked on May 21 in Kashmir.

Witnesses said that the authorities tightened the curbs in order to restrict the movement of public and thwart any gatherings.

They said that the strict curbs were put in place and public movement towards Downtown Srinagar was restricted as nobody was being allowed to move towards the area.

Witnesses said that police and paramilitary troops were deployed in large numbers to enforce the lockdown restrictions. “The barricades and concertina wires were erected at many places and bridges to thwart the public movement,” they said.

Notably, on May 21, 1990, Molvi Mohammad Farooq was killed at his Nigeen Lake residence while Abdul Gani Lone was killed on the 12th death anniversary, May 21, 2002, of Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq at Eidgah in Srinagar.

Meanwhile, media men were barred from covering downtown situation. A group of photographers who were on way to old city were stopped at Bishembar Nagar and Baba Demb area and were told “there are directions from the top not to allow anyone towards Downtown.”