Yet another day of shutdowns, restrictions in Kashmir

SRINAGAR - Curfew continued in summer capital Srinagar, south Kashmir Bijbehara and north Kashmir Trehgam towns Sunday amid another shutdown called by separatists in the valley. Authorities are likely to lift restrictions from many places.

“Curfew is continuing in nine police station areas in Srinagar city, Bijbehara and Trehgam towns while restrictions are in place in Baramulla, Pulwama and Anantnag towns,” a police officer said here.

The officer, however, said that authorities are likely to lift restrictions from many places in the Kashmir Valley as the situation was showing signs of improvement.

“We are closely monitoring the situation at places which are under curfew and restrictions and because the situation is showing signs of improvement at many places. We are planning to lift restrictions in a phased manner,” he said.

Although protesters clashed with security forces at some places Saturday as the separatist Hurriyat group headed by Syed Ali Geelani had called for a general shutdown and protests, no civilian or security official suffered serious injuries.

Despite Sunday being a public holiday, Geelani’s group called for yet another shutdown as part of its ‘Quit Kashmir’ campaign.

So far, 62 civilians have been killed, mostly in firing by security forces, during the ongoing unrest that started here June 11.

Although shops, educational institutions, banks, post offices and government offices remained closed since it was Sunday, public transport too remained off the roads due to the separatist-sponsored shutdown.