Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 24: curfew, restrictions and shutdown paralysed life in Kashmir valley for 78th day today during which clashes and protests erupted at several places and police arrested 39 trouble makers.
Curfew like restrictions were imposed in three Police Station areas – MR Gunj, Nowhatta and Khanyar – in Srinagar’s Old City with hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel deployed across these areas since early morning. The other areas of the Old City were also under restrictions but movement of civilians was being allowed there.
In the evening, stone-throwing clashes erupted at many areas of Old City including Habba Kadal during which security forces fired teargas and pepper gas to disperse the protesters.
In Civil Lines and uptown area of Srinagar, there was some movement of private transport and pedestrians since morning but all the shops, commercial establishments, educational institutes and banks were closed. The security forces were deployed at sensitive areas in strength.
All the shops and business establishments, however, opened in Lal Chowk and other areas of Srinagar after 6 pm. People were seen thronging several shops for buying essentials.
Clashes and protests were reported from Qaimoh, Achabal and Shangus area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Police had imposed restrictions in Handwara and Chadoora areas of North and Central Kashmir.
At Nadihal in Baramulla district, thousands of people attended the funeral prayers of Waseem Ahmad Lone, who was killed in security forces firing, yesterday.
According to a statement issued by Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, the overall situation across the Kashmir valley remained under control and peaceful today. “There was no untoward incident reported from any part of the Valley,” it said.
According to the statement, precautionary measures, restrictions were imposed in three police station areas of the Srinagar city, Handwara and Chadoora area of Budgam district.
“Greater movement of the vehicular traffic was observed across the Valley including Srinagar city. Shops in some areas of Srinagar city were also open as also in some other parts of the Valley,” it said.
The statement said that police, during past 24 hours, arrested 39 miscreants wanted in the offences of creating disruption in traffic movement by stone pelting and by placing obstructions on roads and lanes, harassing shopkeepers and also found involved in damaging public/private property.
Meanwhile, the Government Middle School Theru in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district was gutted tonight. A police party has reached the spot and they are ascertaining the cause of fire.
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