Srinagar: The situation in Kashmir Valley was by and large peaceful on Wednesday with shops being opened and traffic plying normal as authorities lifted curfew from Ganderbal and Kupwara districts and relaxed it in summer capital Srinagar in a phased manner.
The valley was abuzz with activities with shops and business establishments opening and all modes of traffic plying normal on most of the routes.
As Hardline Hurriyat faction headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani exempted the day from the strike, the educational institutions also functioned normally with student attendance showing manifold increase.
Barring an incident in which a youth, Abid Mushtaq, was allegedly injured in security forces action in Soura area of Srinagar, the situation remained by and large peaceful across the valley, official sources said.
Mushtaq was injured in the left eye when security forces allegedly used force to disperse a group of youth during curfew and was admitted to SMHS hospital here, the sources said.
With law and order situation showing improvement, the authorities today lifted curfew from Kupwara district of North Kashmir and Ganderbal district in Central Kashmir.
"Curfew was relaxed in south, west and east zones of Srinagar city from 8.00 am to 10.00 am, but the relaxation was later extended till further orders," a police spokesman said.
As the day progressed, curfew restrictions were eased in North and Hazratbal Zone of the city from 1 pm onwards.
Curfew was imposed in Srinagar city on September 12 and was extended to the entire Kashmir Valley next day following widespread violence. Curfew in seven districts including Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Budgam, Baramulla and Bandipora was lifted on Sunday.
Kashmir Valley has been in grip of violent protests since June 11 when a 17-year-old boy was killed after he was hit by a tear smoke shell during clashes at Rajouri Kadal in interior city.
The unrest has so far claimed over 100 lives and left thousands of others injured.
PTI
