Curfew relaxation to continue in Kashmir Valley

SRINAGAR - Curfew will continue to be relaxed throughout the Kashmir Valley except the Sopore and Kakpora towns, Jammu and Kashmir authorities said here Saturday.

“Curfew relaxation will continue in the valley except in Sopore and Kakpora. The situation is being closely monitored,” a senior police officer said.

The curfew was relaxed Friday to allow people to celebrate the holy Muslim festival of Shab-e-Meraj (the night of Prophet’s ascension to heaven).

The relaxation continued as no major untoward incident was reported in the valley during the night and people busied themselves in nightlong prayers at the mosques here.

The curfew was imposed Wednesday throughout the Kashmir Valley following widespread violence in which three people, including a 25-year old woman, were killed in firing by security forces in Srinagar city Tuesday.

The civil administration had requisitioned the army to assist in imposition of curfew in the valley.

The army carried out several flag marches in the city Wednesday and Thursday to restore law and order situation here although it was stated categorically that the army would not be used for crowd control.

However, no flag march was carried out here Friday as people offered prayers in local mosques.

Although authorities issued fresh curfew passes to the local mediapersons here Friday, newspaper publications remained suspended for the third day Saturday as managements of local newspapers complained that they were not issued sufficient curfew passes necessary for their day-to-day working.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called an all-party meeting here Monday to reach out to mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir and seek their cooperation for ending the recent cycle of violence in which 15 people died in security force firing since June 11.

Mehbooba Mufti, the president of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which is the second largest party after the ruling National Conference (NC) with 21 seats in the 87-member state assembly, has decided not to participate in the meeting.

Mehbooba said she was boycotting the meeting to protest what she alleged had been mishandling of the law and order by Omar Abdullah led coalition government in the state.