After 51 days, curfew lifted in Kashmir Valley

After 51 days, curfew was on Monday lifted from most parts of the Kashmir Valley, but dozens of people were injured in fresh clashes between protesters and security forces.

However, despite lifting of the curfew, the strike call by separatists crippled life throughout Kashmir on the 52nd consecutive day.

A police spokesperson said curfew was suspended in most parts of Kashmir, while it will remain in force in Pulwama town of south Kashmir and in some areas of the old city in Srinagar. He said incidents of stone-pelting were reported from Srinagar, Anantnag, Kulgam, Sopore, Kupwara and Bandipora.

“Some miscreants, in their effort to disrupt the situation, pelted stones on the police and security force deployments in these areas. However, the overall situation remained peaceful and under control throughout Kashmir till evening,” the spokesperson said, adding greater movement of traffic and people was observed across the Valley, including Srinagar city.

Public transport stayed off roads, while shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained shut.

As many as 70 people, including two police officers, have been killed and more than 12,000, including civilians and security personnel, have been wounded in the clashes that began on July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district.

An all-party delegation led by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Jammu and Kashmir on September 4, and is expected to interact with a cross section of people to find a solution to the ongoing protests.