Curfew lifted from Kashmir Valley, Internet services restored

Srinagar: Curfew was on Saturday lifted from Kashmir Valley and mobile Internet services restored, a week after the restrictions were imposed following hanging of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru.

“Curfew has been lifted from all the ten districts in the Valley,” a police spokesman said. However, normal life remained affected as hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Friday extended till Sunday the strike over Guru’s execution and in support of the demand for return of his body to his family.

Shops and business establishments remained closed, while public transport was of the roads due to the strike call. Private vehicles could be seen plying on the roads in the city and other major towns in the Valley. In a relief for five lakh mobile Internet subscribers in the Valley, Internet services were restored late last evening.

Internet services were snapped last Saturday as a precautionary measure as authorities apprehended that trouble-makers may misuse social networking tools for fomenting trouble by spreading rumours.

A police spokesman said the situation across the Valley was peaceful and there were no reports of any untoward incident. Curfew was imposed in Kashmir last week following execution of Guru inside Tihar Jail in Delhi.

Three persons died and over 60 others injured including 25 policemen in the clashes between protesters and security forces following Guru’s execution. (PTI)