Curfew lifted from major parts of Kashmir

A vendor sells vegetables under umbrella on the banks of Dal lake in Srinagar on Sunday. -Excelsior/ Shakeel
A vendor sells vegetables under umbrella on the banks of Dal lake in Srinagar on Sunday. -Excelsior/ Shakeel

Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Aug 28: Curfew was relaxed in parts of Srinagar and other districts in the Valley while shutdown that was observed for 51st consecutive day today paralyzed life.
Curfew was lifted from Anantnag town of South Kashmir and parts of Srinagar while it remained in force in some parts of Srinagar and Pulwama district of South Kashmir today despite rains. However, security forces were deployed in sensitive areas of the Valley to prevent any protests.
Police tonight said that following improvement in the situation, there will be no restrictions in Kashmir valley from tomorrow except Pulwama town and the areas falling under the jurisdictions of police station MR Gunj and police station Nowhatta in Srinagar city.
Protests and clashes broke out in South Kashmir areas following the arrest of four stone pelters in Anantnag district during the nocturnal raids. At least four persons were arrested by police in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on charges of stone pelting during the nocturnal raids last night.
At Jamia Masjid Ajas Bandipora, thousands of people participated in a protest rally. However, it was peaceful.
In Noorbagh area of Srinagar, protests broke out amid incessant rains today. Protesters blocked the main road in the area and didn’t allow anyone to move on the road. However, police later chased away protesters.
Police said that following improvement in situation, curfew was lifted from Anantnag and major areas of Srinagar this morning.
Police said that three stray incidents of stone pelting were reported from Sangam, Ashajipora in Anantnag and Nadigam in Shopian where some trouble-mongers attempted to disturb the situation by pelting stones on police and security force deployments.
“Barring these three incidents of stone pelting, overall situation remained peaceful and under control across the Valley till filing of this report,” police said.
Police said that restrictions under Section 144/CrPC remained in force in the Valley. “However, curfew was imposed under the areas of three police stations of Srinagar, Pampore and Pulwama towns only. Increased movement of vehicular traffic and people was observed in major areas of the Valley including Srinagar city,” police added.
Police, para-military CRPF and BSF were seen patrolling the streets in Srinagar and in curfew bound areas of old city and Pulwama, security forces blocked the major roads with concertina wire to prevent any movement of people and vehicles.
Meanwhile curfew in parts of Valley and shutdown paralysed life in Kashmir for 51st day today. Shops, commercial establishments remained closed.
The major roads in Kashmir remained blocked as protesters had erected barricades at several places.
The train services between Banihal and Baramulla were disrupted for 51st day today.
The prepaid mobile services and mobile internet services also continued to remain blocked as precautionary measures to prevent violence.

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