Situation returns to normal in Kashmir

The situation in most parts of Kashmir Valley returned to normal after a week of curfew and violence, barring Anantnag town where police lobbed tear gas shells to quell stone-pelting protestors.

As the situation remained by and large peaceful, curfew was lifted in Baramulla, Kulgam and Koimoh, police said.
In Sopore, which had witnessed violence following killing of youths allegedly in firing by security forces, the day curfew has been lifted but night curfew would remain in force till further orders, officials said.

Police said curfew was relaxed in Pulwama and Rajpora towns of Pulwama district from 8 am and there was no report of any untoward incident.

Curfew which was lifted from Civil Lines areas of Srinagar yesterday morning, was on Sunday withdrawn from the old city areas. People thronged marketplaces to buy essentials. The government-run ration depots opened this morning and long queues were seen outside them. Shops in uptown Srinagar also opened and traffic plied on all routes.

As authorities relaxed curfew in Anantnag this morning, people took to streets at several places and attacked the deputy commissioner's office, two police stations and threw stones at security forces, prompting the re-imposition of curfew, police said.

Police fired tear gas shells and used batons to disperse protestors who targeted police and paramilitary personnel at several places, including Lal Chowk, Chini Chowk, Mattan Chowk and Barakabad demanding registration of murder case against senior civil and police officers over the death of three youths on June 29.

One person was injured in the clashes, officials said.