Srinagar: Complete shutdown was observed across the Valley on Thursday on the call of both factions of Hurriyat Conference, JKLF and other separatist organisations.
A large number of police and paramilitary CRPF men were deployed in Srinagar city and other parts of the valley to impose restrictions. In Srinagar city locals alleged that curfew like situation was imposed as forces didnt allow them to venture out of their homes. Most of the roads and streets were barricaded by concertina wires to check pedestrian and vehicular movement.
The situation was no different in uptown where the main government function was held at Bakhshi Stadium. Strict arrangements were put in place in and around the stadium where Chief Minister Omar Abdullah unfurled the tri-color. Sources said that special instruction were issued to the policemen and other forces to keep check on unregistered vehicles, private vehicles running in tinted glasses, two-wheelers to ensure that militants should not be able to breach the security ring.
The invitees were subjected to thorough frisking at several points before entering the venue. Besides, their invitation cards were matched with their identity proofs. CCTVs were also installed inside the stadium while SSG personnel were monitoring the activities of the people with binoculars.
Lal Chowk was also out of bounds for people as large contingents of CRPF and police personnel were deployed around it and all the roads leading to it were barricaded.
Elsewhere in the Valley, complete shutdown was observed with shops remaining closed and traffic off the roads. Reports said complete shutdown was observed in Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal and Kupwara districts of North Kashmir. Police and paramilitary CRPF personnel were deployed in strength in north Kashmirs Sopore town to prevent any protests. Life was also paralyzed by the strike in south Kashmir districts of Kulgam, Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama.
Director General Police Ashok Prasad told KNS that the official I-day functions passed of peacefully at all district headquarters across the state and there was no report of any untoward incident in any part of the state.
Meanwhile, curfew was lifted in seven districts of Jammu region on Thursday and situation was returning to normal. But curfew continued for the seventh consecutive day in Kishtwar district. Pertinently three persons had died and dozens others injured during communal violence in Kishtwar last Friday.
The DGP said curfew has been lifted in every part of the Jammu region except from Kishtwar as there is still some kind of tension. But we are monitoring the situation and as soon it becomes better we will lift the curfew from Kishtwar as well, he said.
Meanwhile Divisional commissioner Jammu Shanant Manu said that curfew has been lifted from seven districts of Jammu region and was relaxed in Kishtwar during the I-day function.
We are closely monitoring the situation of the region, if required night curfew will be imposed in Jammu region. I-day functions passed off peacefully and there was no report of any untoward incidents during the function, he said. KNS
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