Srinagar : With situation improving in Kashmir, there was no curfew anywhere in the Valley for the first time on a Friday since it was hit by unrest in July.
Authorities have been imposing curfew in many parts of the Valley, especially in the old city areas of Srinagar, on Fridays, in view of apprehensions of law and order problems after the congregational prayers. In view of the improving situation, the authorities decided against imposing the curfew this time. “There is no curfew anywhere in Kashmir today but curfew-like restrictions have been imposed in Batamaloo police station area of Srinagar as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order,” a police official said.
“The situation has improved a lot. People are moving freely. There is increased traffic on the roads with each passing day, so the decision to not impose curfew was taken,” the official said. However, normal life remained affected in the Valley for the 119th straight day on Friday due to the separatist-sponsored strike while a tin-shed of Government High School in Soura here was set afire on Thursday night by miscreants in which some furniture was destroyed.
Most of the shops, business establishments and fuel stations across Kashmir were shut, but some were open in few areas on the civil lines and the outskirts of the summer capital Srinagar, the official said. Auto-rickshaws and cabs were seen plying at some places in the Valley, including in few areas of the city here.
On Thursday evening, in order to discourage public transport from plying, some miscreants had set ablaze an auto-rickshaw belonging to Farooq Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Doonipawa area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, on K P Road, the official said. He said due to timely action by police, the fire was brought under control. A case has been registered to identify and arrest the culprits, he added. –PTI
