By Reyaz Ahmed, NAK,
Srinagar : Hundreds of thousands of people from every nook and corner of the Kashmir valley on Friday flooded streets of Srinagar and marched to assembled at the sprawling Eidgah ground following a ‘Idgah chalo’ call given by Coordination Committee of Hurriyat Conference.
The pro freedom demonstrations and protests against the killings and economic blockade enforced by Sri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti in Kashmir valley resumed today after three days.
Massive multitude of people board in buses, lorries, mini-buses and bikes with green and black flags hoisted on top, flying from wing mirrors and the handlebars of bikes streamed to a sprawling Idgah, a vast prayer congregation ground in interior city.
The Committee, which includes both factions of Hurriyat Conference and JKLF among other groups, has asked people to observe a strike on Friday and March towards Idgah where it will announce its future course of action.
Thousands of people from every length and breath of Kashmir thronged Idgah to listen to the leader after Friday prayer.
With the rally in Srinagar, main city, businesses, educational institutions including private and government offices were also closed as traffic went off the roads. And the entire valley observed complete shutdown.
The massive crowd-estimated by police sources at about 300,000 people —yelling pro-freedom and anti-India slogans as they waited for a prayer session and speeches from separatist leaders.
However, independent sources that almost more than 6 lakh people gathered in ground to attend Idgah Chalo.
“This is a freedom movement, a people’s movement. We are united to fight India until we get freedom,” said Salman Ahmed, a 27-year-old protester.
Hum ka cahte Azadi, Hein Haq Humra Azadi (We want freedom, our right to freedom), Radgda, Ragda Bhrat Ragda (Rag India rag it) were the slogans that reverberate valley roads particularly Srinagar city.
Police sources said that security measures have been intensified with more deployment forces and police in sensitive areas, adding that vehicles with green and black flags were seen moving on the roads in the city.
Sources further said that several thousand police officers in riot gear patrolled the streets ahead of the rally but later pulled back from the site-apparently in a bid to reduce tensions.
A statement from the organizers said the march was called to honor “martyrs of the movement and pray for Kashmir’s freedom from the colonial oppression.”
The protest followed a three-day lull that allowed residents to stock up on supplies after nearly two months of unrest in the state pitting the Jammu region verses Kashmir.