Curfew remains in force in Shopian

Shopian town in south Kashmir remained under curfew for the eighth consecutive day on Thursday following killing of five persons in CRPF firing in two separate incidents last week.

"Curfew is in force in Shopian township even today," DC Shopian, Bashir Ahmad Bhat said.

Bhat, however said, the district administration plans to relax the restrictions in the afternoon if the situation remains peaceful.

"We are planning to ease restrictions in the afternoon," he said.

Shopian has been under curfew since September 8, barring September 11 when the authorities lifted curfew, but protests and subsequent firing led to another death and re-imposition of the restrictions in the town.

Four persons were killed allegedly by CRPF personnel outside their camp on September 7, while another person died when the paramilitary force resorted to firing to disperse protestors outside the camp on September 11.

The state government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the firing incidents.