Hizbul posters surface in J&K; call for shut down of parlours

Posters of threat, believed to be circulated by Hizbul Mujhaideen surfaced on Friday in some areas of Pulwama district of Kashmir, asking beauty parlours to shut business and people to stay away from "immoral activities" like drug abuse.

"We are warning the people of Karimabad, Newah, Jadoora, Wahibug and Kalaan to stay away from alcohol, charas and other unnecessary immoral activities," read the posters.

The posters bearing the stamp and logo of Hizbul Mujahideen, appeared this morning in many areas of Pulwama district.

These also demanded the beauty parlours in the area to close down their businesses.

A police officer, while acknowledging the surfacing of the posters, said that the development can also be a handiwork of pranksters.

"We are investigating the matter... while we do not rule out possibility of Hizb being behind the posters, it seems to be handiwork of pranksters," the officer said.

The posters have surfaced in a day when suspected militants hurled grenades inside offices of two private telecom companies in the heart of the city.

At the time of eruption of militancy in Kashmir in 1989, separatist and militant outfits forced closure of liquor shops, video parlours, cinema theatres and beauty parlours, asserting that these places promoted immorality in the society.