Kashmir violence: Police reimpose restrictions after sectarian clashes

Fresh sectarian clashes today forced authorities to reimpose restrictions on the movement of people in parts of Srinagar City, even as rest of the city limped back to normalcy.

Hours after authorities lifted the three-day old curfew from nine police station areas of the city, members of the rival communities assembled in Hawal area and started pelting stones at the cops, a police spokesman said. He said restrictions were imposed again in the affected localities but no curfew has been imposed so far.
So far there are no reports of anyone getting injured in the brief clashes, he added.

According to eye-witnesses, both the communities accused the police of being in league with the rival community following the sectarian clashes that broke out on Wednesday, prompting the District Magistrate Srinagar to impose curfew in nine police station areas.

Earlier in the day, normal life resumed in entire Srinagar city, after authorities lifted the three-day old curfew. "Curfew has been lifted from all nine police station areas of Srinagar city as the situation remained peaceful following imposition of restrictions on Wednesday," the police spokesman said.

Curfew was imposed in Nowhatta, M R Gunj, Safakadal, Khanyar, Rainawari, Nigeen, Lal Bazaar, Zadibal and Parimpora police station areas on Wednesday after sectarian clashes broke out in Hawal area of the city.

Hawal, Gojwara and adjoining areas have become flash points for sectarian violence over the past couple of years during Muharram processions. With the lifting of the curfew, normal life resumed in all parts of the city with schools, colleges, shops, offices and business establishments opening after three days.

The examinations being conducted by the University of Kashmir were also held today after two days. The examinations scheduled for Thursday and Friday were cancelled due to curfew and will now be held at a later date to be announced by the varsity authorities.