Even as over half of the Jammu and Kashmir capital remained frozen for the third consecutive day, authorities late on Friday decided to relax, and subsequently lift, curfew that had been clamped amid sectarian tension.
“We have relaxed curfew for two hours tonight,” Senior Superintendent of Police Ashiq Bukhari told The Hindu . He said that in view of near-total calm in the past three days, Srinagar District Magistrate Baseer Ahmad Khan decided to lift curfew.
Informed sources said that at a meeting Deputy Commissioner Baseer Khan held with the police and civil administration, it was decided that there would be no restrictions in force from Saturday, subject to Friday night remaining peaceful.
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“As of now,” Mr. Bukhari said, “Srinagar is normal and the situation is under control. Barring a couple of minor encounters between stone-pelting groups and the police on 90-Ft. Road at Soura and Bohrikadal in downtown, no untoward incident was reported.” No one was injured in the incident.
Meanwhile, for the third day running, Kashmir University did not conduct its graduate and PG examinations.