Jammu and Kashmir: Curfew lifted in five districts

The fortnight-long curfew was today lifted from five districts of the Kashmir Valley and relaxed in a phased manner in rest of the curfew-bound areas including Srinagar.

There was no report of any untoward incident. The situation remained peaceful in the entire valley including Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, a police spokesman said.

The main markets in the city and elsewhere remained abuzz with activities and all modes of transport including commercial vehicles were seen plying on different routes.

Curfew has been lifted from Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Budgam districts in South and Central Kashmir and Handwara town in Kupwara district of north Kashmir, the spokesman said.

However, he said restrictions under section 144 CrPC, which prohibits assembly of four or more persons, continue to remain in place in Budgam district.

The spokesperson said curfew has been eased from South, East and West Zones of Srinagar from 11.00am to 3.00pm while it was relaxed from 1.00pm to 5.00pm in North and Hazratbal zones of the city.

The relaxation was extended further as there was no report of any untoward incident, he said.

Although authorities had lifted curfew from Srinagar city yesterday, the curbs were re-imposed in the wee hours today following some stone pelting incidents at Habba Kadal and Solina area of the city.

The spokesperson said curfew restrictions in Kralpora and Trehgam areas of Kupwara in north Kashmir have been relaxed from 10:30am to 2pm, while in Kupwara town from 12pm to 2pm.

Curfew has been relaxed in Sopore town of north Kashmir's Baramulla district also in a phased manner, the spokesperson added.

A youth was injured in Sopore town last night when security forces hurled tear smoke shells and fired in the air to disperse a stone pelting mob in Maharajpora area of the north Kashmir town, the spokesman said.

In Ganderbal district, restrictions were relaxed from 11 to 1pm, which were further extended upto 7pm, the spokesman said adding curfew was also relaxed in Bandipora district town and Sumbal township of the district.

Baramulla district town and its adjoining areas also witnessed peaceful relaxation period from 3pm to 6pm, while in Tangmarg and Kunzar areas of the district, the relaxation period was 1pm to 4pm, which was later extended up to 6pm.


Meanwhile, hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has issued a fresh 10-day protest calendar calling for strikes and protests from September 27 to October 6, exempting September 29, October 1 and October 4.

Curfew was imposed in Srinagar city on September 12 and was extended to the entire Kashmir Valley next day following widespread violence.

Kashmir Valley has been in grip of violent protests since June 11 when a teenager was killed after he was hit by a tear smoke shell during clashes at Rajouri Kadal in interior city.