Curfew remained in force in entire Srinagar district and Anantnag town today to thwart the separatists' plan to stage a two-day sit-in in the city centre even as the death toll in the ongoing unrest climbed to 56 in the Valley with the death of a youth injured in firing.
"Curfew has been imposed in entire Srinagar district to foil the plans of some elements to stage a sit-in for two days in the Lal Chowk city centre," a police official said.
He said curfew also remained in force in Anantnag town in south Kashmir.
The separatist camp, headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, had asked the people to hold a "referendum" march at Lal Chowk today and tomorrow.
The separatist camp is spearheading the protests in the Valley over the civilian killings during the protests against the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani last month.
The death toll in the ongoing unrest went up to 56 as a youth, Suhail Ahmad Wani, who was injured in firing by a policeman last week, succumbed to injuries at a hospital here today, the official said.
Wani had suffered a bullet injury in the head on August 2 at Lethpora in Pulwama district on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
Normal life remained affected in the Valley for the 36th consecutive day due to the curbs imposed by the authorities and separatist sponsored strike against the killing of civilians in the security forces action.
Schools, colleges, business establishments, petrol pumps and private offices remained closed while public transport remained off the roads.
The attendance in government offices and banks was also thin, the official said.
Mobile Internet services continued to remain snapped in the entire Valley.
The decision to completely ban Internet services was taken
after a review of the prevailing law and order situation in the state on the eve of Eid-ul-Zuha festival, the sources said.
They said Airtel, Aircel, Vodafone and Reliance telecom have been ordered to shut down their services with immediate effect for 72 hours. The BSNL too has been asked to stop its broadband services for Internet.
However, post-paid BSNL connections, which are mainly used by police, army and government officials, have been kept out of the purview of the ban, the sources said.
Mobile telephony was banned immediately after the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8 which set off the current spiral of violence in the Valley. It was partially restored on July 27 followed by opening of only broadband Internet.
Opposition National Conference slammed the government for its decision to impose curfew, saying it vindicated the party's claim that the Mehbooba Mufti government had no control over the situation.
"The PDP always loves to compare the situation with 2010 agitation but never ever has there been a curfew on auspicious occasion like Eid before," the National Conference spokesman said.
(REOPENS DEL2)
Authorities have indefinitely suspended all mobile Internet facilities in five districts of Jammu region in order to thwart any rumour mongering.
The authorities have asked various mobile service operators across Jammu region to suspend mobile Internet facilities in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi district of Jammu province, an official communique issued to mobile service operators read.
The suspension of the mobile Internet services have been put into effect from 4 AM today till further orders.
The step has been taken to avoid any law and order problem in the region and spread of rumours.
The authorities have also issued instructions to mobile phone operators including the state-run BSNL to suspend its landline based broadband services in the five districts of Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch of Jammu province.
"In view of the present security scenario in Jammu province, there is every apprehension that anti-national elements can create law and order problem for the police, administration for their vested interest", the communique read.
Meanwhile, the Central Reserve Police Force said three of its personnel have been injured in stone-pelting incidents since yesterday.
"3 CRPF personnel injured & 1 CRPF vehicle damaged in 23 incidents of stone pelting involving the force in the Kashmir Valley in past 24 hrs," the force said in a tweet.
