Curfew-like restrictions continued in five police station areas of Srinagar as a precautionary measure even as normal life across Kashmir was affected on Wednesday following a call for general strike by separatist groups to protest the killing of two youths in army firing.
“Restrictions have been imposed in five police station areas of old city as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order,” a police spokesman said.
He said the restrictions were imposed in view of the call for strike given by the separatist groups, which often lead to violence in these areas.
Hurriyat Conference factions headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had called for >a strike to protest the killing of two youths in army firing at Chattergam in Budgam district of the valley on Monday. Two other youths were injured in the incident that led to widespread condemnation from various quarters, including the mainstream political parties.
Normal life in the Valley was affected as banks, shops, schools and other educational institutions remained closed due to the strike.
Public transport was off the roads in most parts of the Valley, including the city but private vehicles could be seen plying on some routes of the city.
The police spokesman said there were no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere in the valley so far.
He said Nowgam area of the city, the native area of the slain youth which witnessed some stone-pelting incidents on Tuesday, was peaceful so far.
“Security forces have been deployed in strength in the area to maintain law and order,” he added.
Meanwhile, an army official said that, “Some vested interests are spreading rumours that the third person injured during Chattergam incident has succumbed. It is clarified that both are stable and doing fine,” Colonel GS (IW) of Army’s 15 Corps Col Brijesh Pandey said.
