Curfew, restrictions re-imposed in Kashmir

Srinagar: Curfew was imposed in four districts of south Kashmir and Srinagar city on Friday while the authorities clamped restrictions in some other areas of the Valley to thwart a planned march by separatists here.

Normal life remained paralyzed elsewhere in the Valley for the 21st consecutive day on Friday in view of the strike call given by the separatist camp

“There is curfew in entire south Kashmir and Srinagar, while restrictions have been imposed in north and central Kashmir,” a police official said.
He said all the four districts of south Kashmir - Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian - were under curfew to maintain law and order.

The separatists had asked the people to reach Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar to pay tributes to the people killed in the recent violence in the Valley. Protests broke out across Kashmir Valley on July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces.

The separatist camp has extended the shutdown call in Kashmir till July 31. The shutdown will continue as usual with daily relaxation after 7 pm till late hours

In the ensuing clashes between protesters and security forces, 47 persons, including two policemen, were killed and 5,500 others were injured.

On Thursday authorities had lifted curfew and restrictions from across the Valley, except Anantnag town, after some improvement in the situation. Meanwhile, normal life remained paralyzed elsewhere in the Valley for the 21st consecutive day on Friday in view of the strike call given by the separatist camp.

The separatists asked the people to hold sit-in on roads on Saturday and offer the late afternoon and evening prayers together on roads. They also asked people to observe an hour-long ‘blackout’ from 8 pm

Schools, colleges and business establishments remained closed due to the strike while public transport remained off roads.

The separatist camp has extended the shutdown call in Kashmir till July 31. The shutdown will continue as usual with daily relaxation after 7 pm till late hours, a joint statement of the separatists, including both factions of Hurriyat led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and JKLF led by Yasin Malik, said on Thursday night.

The separatists asked the people to hold sit-in on roads on Saturday and offer the late afternoon and evening prayers together on roads. They also asked people to observe an hour-long ‘blackout’ from 8 pm.

On July 31, the separatists said, people to visit ‘martyrs graveyards to offer special prayers and paint slogans and graffiti on walls and roads.

PTI