No curfew in Srinagar despite protest shutdown

SRINAGAR - For the first time in almost a month, no curfew or restrictions were imposed in Jammu and Kashmir’s summer capital Thursday despite a protest shutdown called by separatists. Markets, however, were deserted and normal life was affected due to unavailability of public transport.

“There shall be no curfew or restriction anywhere in Srinagar city today. We have, however, deployed security men on the ground to thwart any attempt by miscreants to disturb peace in the city,” a senior police officer told IANS here.

Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, who has been spearheading the Quit Kashmir campaign for nearly four months now, has called a Valley wide shutdown Thursday.

Geelani’s breakaway Hurriyat group has been issuing protest calendars on a weekly basis as part of the group’s Quit Kashmir campaign for the past four months.

Shops, other businesses, public transport and attendance at banks, educational institutions and post offices was affected because of the non-availability of public transport in Srinagar.

Some private transport, however, plied on the roads in Srinagar city although the markets wore a deserted look here.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who concluded a debate on the prevailing situation in the Valley in state legislative assembly Wednesday, maintained that peace and normal life would return only after the separatists stopped issuing these protest calendars.

Abdullah also held the separatists responsible for the volatile situation in the Valley in which 109 people have lost their lives after the cycle of violence started here June 11.