Authorities on Sunday imposed curfew and restrictions in many parts of Kashmir Valley in the wake of the ongoing shutdown call by separatists even as they announced a 14-hour break in their agitation.
The hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, spearheading the ongoing strike, announced the break for 14 hours from 5 p.m. this evening. After the announcement, business establishments opened and traffic resumed in Srinagar and elsewhere in the Valley.
However, the curfew remained in force in areas falling under seven police stations — Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safakadal, M R Gunj, Bemina and Qammerwari, police said. Curfew also remained in force in Kupwara and Kralpora towns of north Kashmir, restrictions were also imposed in Hyderpora and Budgam towns in central Kashmir.
Barring stone pelting incidents at Habba Kadal and Chota Bazar in old city and Palhallan in Baramulla district, situation across the Valley remained peaceful, they said.
“Five persons were arrested in Handwara in Kupwara district, who were part of a group of miscreants intimidating the shopkeepers in the town who had resumed business activities in the main Chowk Handwara and were forcing them to close,” a police spokesman told PTI.
The five arrested have been identified as Ghulam Mustafa, working in Fisheries Department presently posted at Kokernag, Waseem Hassan Banday, forest guard posted at Baramulla, Mushtaq Ahmed Banday also a forest guard posted at Natnasu-Kupwara, Saleem Yousuf Banday and Manzoor Ahmad Banday, both students, he said. He said a deputy superintendent of police was injured in the incident.
The Valley was rocked by violence following the death of a teenager on June 11 after he was allegedly hit by a teargas shell near Rajouri Kadal area of old city. Street protests since then have claimed 64 lives.
