Curfew in some parts of north Kashmir

Kashmiri men sleep on benches in front of closed shops during a shutdown in Srinagar. Photo: AP

Curfew remained in force in parts of north Kashmir for the third day today even as a separatist-sponsored strike disrupted normal life in Srinagar and other major towns of the Valley.

Curfew continued in Sopore town and Delina and Palhalan villages of Baramulla district and Bandipora district town as a precautionary measure, a police spokesman said.

He said the law and order situation in the curfew-bound areas and elsewhere in the Valley was normal.

“There are no reports of any untoward incident from any place. The situation at this hour is normal and under control,” the spokesman said.

However, shops and business establishments and private offices remained closed in most parts of the Valley due to the strike called by hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Public transport services also remained off the roads but private vehicles were plying in the city in large numbers.

Some commercial vehicles were also seen plying on some routes in the Valley.

Kashmir Valley has been in a grip of protests, strikes and curfew since June when a 17-year-old boy was killed by a tear smoke shell allegedly fired by police at Rajouri Kadal area of the city.