Kashmir largely peaceful

Barring stray incidents of stone- pelting, situation across Kashmir remained by and large peaceful today even as curfew was in force in interior parts of Srinagar and some other areas as a precautionary measure in view of violence witnessed after Friday prayers last week.

Normal life, however, remained affected in the valley for the 98th day due to separatist-sponsored strike.

"Incidents of stone-pelting were reported from Sabzi Mandi in Srinagar, Naina Chowk in Anantnag, Khudwani Bypass in Kulgam and Tarzoo and main chowk Sopore in Baramulla district," a police spokesman said.

"At these places, miscreants, in their attempt to disrupt the situation, assembled on roads and pelted stones on police and security force deployments," the spokesman said.
 

Officials said over a dozen persons were injured in the clashes as police and paramilitary personnel used batons and teargas shells to disperse the stone-pelters.

In five police station areas of downtown Srinagar, curfew remained in force to maintain law and order in view of violence witnessed after Friday prayers last week in which a minor boy had died due to pellet injuries, a police official said.

The official said while there were no curbs on the movement of people anywhere else in Kashmir, restrictions on the assembly of people under Section 144 CrPc were in force throughout the Valley.

He said security forces have been deployed in sensitive areas to maintain law and order as also to instill a sense of security among the people so that they can carry out their day to day activities without fear.

Movement of private transport and auto-rickshaws was thin in the civil lines areas of the city including around the commercial hub of Lal Chowk where signs of normalcy where seen after the separatists had announced evening relaxation in the strike.

The police spokesman said 63 more persons were arrested for "disrupting the public order" in different parts of the valley since yesterday.

"In its continuous drive to curb the activities of the trouble-mongers, police arrested 63 such individuals involved in disrupting the public order in different parts of the valley during the past 24 hours," he said.