‘Civil curfew’ in many towns

SRINAGAR: Life in the Kashmir valley came to a standstill on Saturday as people observed a “civil curfew” on a call by the separatist coordination committee.

The separatists had called for the strike to protest against the prime minister’s visit to Kashmir as well as the use of force by security personnel against “peaceful demonstrators”.

Two persons were killed and 75 others, including 34 security personnel, injured in clashes between demonstrators and law enforcers in parts of Srinagar and Baramulla on Friday.

Shops, markets, and petrol pumps remained closed and transport stayed off the roads in uptown Srinagar while law enforcement agencies enforced prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in the downtown area.

Residents of downtown Srinagar claimed that police and paramilitary forces in riot gear were not allowing people to come out of their houses. But officials denied this.

Educational institutions remained closed and attendance in government offices was thin. A complete shutdown was observed in Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, and several
other towns in the valley.