Srinagar: The already imposed COVID-19 restrictions in Srinagar were further intensified on Friday, especially in and around Nowhatta and Eidgah area, on the death anniversaries Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone.
Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq, father of Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was assassinated by unknown gunmen on May 21, 1990, while Abdul Gani Lone, father of Peoples Conference (PC) chief Sajad Lone was assassinated on May 12, 2002.
A large number of troops were deployed in lanes and by-lanes in and around Nowhatta and Martyrs Graveyard Eidgah, where the two separatist leaders are buried. Concertina wires and barricades were installed on many roads leading to the old city.
“I was not allowed to cross barricades today, as there is a huge deployment of troops from our side because the death anniversaries of Mirwaiz Farooq and Lone,” said Suhaib Bhat, a resident of Nawabazar area of downtown Srinagar.
Meanwhile, Sajad Lone while remembering his father, said that his father was killed for speaking the truth.
“Remembering my father Abdul Gani Lone who was killed on this day nineteen years ago. Killed for expressing his ideas. Killed for speaking the truth. Truth is as much of a rarity now as it was then,” he tweeted.
