Indefinite curfew was clamped in all major towns of the Kashmir Valley today in the wake of protests, even as the death toll in the violent clashes between locals and security forces rose to four.
There were also reports of sporadic protests in some parts of the Valley.
Two of the 70 people injured during protests yesterday succumbed to injuries at a hospital this morning, a police spokesman said. The deceased have been identified as Mohammed Rafiq and 30-year-old Mohammed Siddiqui of Baramulla district.
Official sources that curfew has been imposed as a precautionary measure following the protests.
Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in all sensitive areas and the residents have been asked not to step out.
Curfew passes given to media persons have been cancelled, police said. This is the second time this month that curfew passes have been cancelled. On July 6, curfew passes were cancelled when the army was deployed in the city.
Security forces on Friday opened fire to quell stone-pelting protesters who clashed with them at several places.
Shoukat Ahmad Chopan and Mohammad Ahsan Ganai were killed and seven others injured yesterday when security forces opened fire on a mob at Arampora village of Sopore, 55 km from here in Baramulla district of north Kashmir.
Condemning the killings, Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had said yesterday that such incidents were contributing to an “unprecedented worsening of situation“.
PDP general secretary Mohammad Dilawar Mir, in a statement here, accused the state administration of failing to perform its duty.
The state unit of CPI(M) also expressed grief and shock over the killings.