Photographs: Umar Ganie
As Kashmir remains on the brink, the Centre is rushing almost 800 personnel of Central security forces to the state to maintain law and order even as curfew was clamped in more areas of the valley which witnessed stray attempts at violence as the Army carried out a flag march in Srinagar for the second day today.
According to sources, the eight companies drawn from Central Reserve Police Force and Border Security Forces will be sent in a day or two to the Kashmir valley.
On Thursday, the army conducted flag marches in sensitive areas of the capital on Thursday afternoon to assist the civil administration in the enforcement of the curfew imposed in the early hours of Wednesday.
The army was called in after large-scale violence claimed four lives on Tuesday.
Text: Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar
Army flag-marches through Kashmir streets
Image: Army parades through the riot-torn SrinagarThe violence that followed the recovery of the body left three persons including a woman dead and over 70 injured.
Kashmir on the edge
Image: Army parades through the riot-torn SrinagarA senior police officer said more companies of the CRPF were on their way to Kashmir to strength the security apparatus.
Kashmir on the edge
Image: Army parades through the riot-torn SrinagarThe cancellation of the curfew passes has also hit essential services including power, water supply and hospitals.
Kashmir on the edge
Image: Army parades through the riot-torn SrinagarMeanwhile, the state police arrested the president of the Kashmir Bar Association Mian Abdul Quyoom under the harsh Public Safety Act on Wednesday.
Kashmir on the edge
Image: Army parades through the riot-torn SrinagarIn a sharp reaction to the deployment of the army, chairman of the moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq said that 'military measures will in no way be able to break the will and resolve of the people as has been proved beyond doubt time and again in the last six decades'.
"Unfortunately, the army has always been India's first and last resort in handling Kashmir," the Mirwaiz said in a statement.
Omar convenes all-party meet
Image: Army vehicles pass through a deserted road in SrinagarOmar reviews the situation
Image: Policemen patrol through the deserted streetsOn-the-spot assessment on Friday
Image: Another deserted streetthe area, official sources said, adding they also discussed whether to continue flag marches by the army or not.
Centre sends a tough message
Image: Another viewIn a related development, the Centre has sent out a tough message that "anti-nationals and vested interests" creating unrest in the valley would be dealt with sternly.
Kashmir stays indoors
Image: Another view from Srinagarfor the second day.
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