Curfew lifted from Srinagar; restriction on public assembly continues

Curfew was imposed yesterday to maintain law and order in the wake of the separatists' call for a march to Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of Srinagar.

Srinagar: Curfew was on Saturday lifted from Srinagar leading to improvement in the movement of people and transport in the city here while restrictions on public assembly were in place throughout the Kashmir Valley.

Curfew has been lifted from the six police station areas of the city where the curbs were imposed yesterday, a police official said.

He said curfew was imposed yesterday to maintain law and order in the wake of the separatists' call for a march to Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of the city, but was lifted this morning following improvement in the situation.

The official said there were no curbs on the movement of people anywhere in Kashmir, but restrictions on the assembly of public under Section 144 CrPc were in place throughout the Valley.

The lifting of the curbs lead to improvement in the movement of people and transport in the city, he said, adding the number of private cars and auto-rickshaws plying in the city was significantly higher today.

Vendors were back on the streets of the city in the TRC Chowk-Batamaloo axis , while many shops were open in the civil lines and the outskirts of Srinagar.

However, normal life continued to remain affected in the rest of the Valley for the 113th day due to the separatist-sponsored strike.

Security forces have been deployed in strength at vulnerable spots and along the main roads as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order as well as to instill a sense of security among the people to carry out their day to day activities without fear.

The separatists have been agitating since Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8.

As many as 85 people, including two police personnel, have been killed and thousands of others injured in the ongoing unrest in the Valley.

Around 5000 security forces personnel have also been injured in the clashes.

Over 300 persons have been booked under Public Safety Act (PSA).