Curfew re-imposed following massive protests in Jammu and Kashmir

Government on July 27, re-imposed curfew in parts of Srinagar after massive protests broke out in the city on July 26, following lifting of curfew that remained in force since the killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) ‘commander’, Burhan Wani on July 8, reports Daily Excelsior. 

Police detained chairmen of both the factions of All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) after they tried to carry out a protest march to Kulgam District. Police detained Geelani-led APHC-G chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani outside his residence at Hyderpora when he tried to carry out protest march to Kulgam in South Kashmir and shifted to Humhama Police Station. Mirwaiz-led APHC-M, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also detained and taken into custody as he tried to carry out a protest march to Kulgam.  

In the evening, protests were reported from several parts of Srinagar and South Kashmir where protesters clashed with Police. Police fired teargas shells to disperse them. The Valley observed shutdown for 19th day on July 27, with people mostly staying indoors. Schools and colleges, despite summer vacation having ended, remained closed as no students and hardly any teachers turned up. Thin attendance in the Government offices was negligible in Srinagar city and other parts of Kashmir valley. A Police spokesman said here that the situation throughout the Kashmir valley remained peaceful and under control. “There was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the Valley. Apart from police stations of old city Srinagar, Kulgam and Anantnag, there were no restrictions anywhere in the Kashmir valley. All post paid mobile services were restored last night”, he said.