SRINAGAR: Normal life was brought to a halt throughout the valley after a bandh call was given by the Ikhwan-ul Muslimen (Muslim Brotherhood) to mourn the death of its chief, Altaf Quaishi, while five persons including three army jawans were killed in other incidents of violence,
Vehicles were off the roads and all the establishments were closed. The bandh call was supported by several other political and militant organizations. The funeral procession of the slain separatist leader was reportedly fired upon by the security forces. Two women suffered outlet injuries on Oct.5.
Journalists said that thousands of mourners were subject to heavy cane charge prior to the firing. The scribes, including the photographers, were confined by the security forces near a security bunker and were not allowed to cover the event As the paramilitary forces stopped the procession from going further, the body was taken in a police truck to the main Martyrs Graveyard at Idgah in downtown Srinagar.
Meanwhile, the siege around the historic Jamia Masjid was lifted after three days of cordon and starch operations. The forces managed to seize upon a big haul of arms and ammunition, Among those arrested included Mohd Farooq Wani of the separatist Peoples League and Rafeeq Shaseen of the Liberation Council,
Hundreds of women from the Nowata locality squatted on the road, protesting against the security excesses and the random arrests by the paramilitary forces during the search operations.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 23, 1992
