"So while I have no hesitation in apologising to people inconvenienced by the restrictions, we did what we had to do to keep the peace," Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.
"I make no apologies for the administrative measures used over the last few days in a handful of police stations. Situation demanded it," he said.
Curfew-like restrictions were imposed on the movement of people in six police station areas of the old city for four consecutive days following destruction of the 200-year-old shrine of Dastageer Sahib at Khanyar on Monday.
The Chief Minister said people making the most noise about the restrictions in old city would have been happier to see a repeat of the unrest in 2010, when Kashmir was on the boil and clashes between security forces and protestors was the norm. More than 100 persons died in the summer agitation two years ago.
"And if you want to see examples of people who would rather have seen blood spilt on the streets, take a look at my timeline," Omar said.
He said there were people who would have liked to exploit the tragic loss of the shrine. "Unfortunately there are people completely devoid of any scruples who would exploit the recent tragedy and that could not be allowed."
