Curfew Reimposed in Parts of Kashmir after Fresh Violence
As stone-pelting mobs clashed with security forces, curfew was reimposed in Maisuma locality in Srinagar and later in Anantnag and Pulwama towns, said media reports.
“Miscreants resorted to stone pelting in Maisuma and in Anantnag and Pulwama during curfew relaxation. Curfew was reimposed at these places,” a senior police officer was quoted as saying.
Cufew was relaxed late last night in the Kashmir valley for an indefinite period to let people celebrate holy Muslim festive of Shab-e-Meraj (ascension of Prophet to heaven). However, there was no relaxation in curfew in Sopore and Kakpora towns
In most parts of Srinagar, markets were closed and public buses didn’t ply but people came out of their homes in large number of buy essential commodities, and private transport plied on the roads, reports said.
Earlier, Union New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and discussed the situation in the valley.
He discussed the measures being taken by the Centre and state government to restore normalcy in the state, said reports.
In the morning, some protestors came out in the streets in Qamarwari, Naaz cinema, Nowhatta and Maisuma of the city but were chased away by the police, reports said.
Authorities imposed restrictions in Maisuma after the protests, said reports.
People continued to throng the Hazratbal Shrine today to have a glimpse of a Holy Relic of Prophet Mohammed which is shown to people after every prayer after Shab-e-Mehraj (night of ascent). Nearly 4,000 people had gathered during the first prayer at the break of the dawn.
However, in Pulwama district of South Kashmir, curfew had to be imposed after a media report that one person had died in police firing, which was denied by authorities, reports said.
People started coming out on the streets despite administration announcing that the news was not correct. Before things could go out of hands, the authorities decided to impose curfew.
Omar has convened an all-party meeting in Srinagar on Monday to discuss the present situation. PDP, the main opposition party, has decided to boycott it saying it was a ‘purposeless exercise’.
(Based on internet reports)
