Srinagar, September 1
Although the authorities had decided to lift the curfew today, restrictions continued in view of the protest demonstrations called by the separatist coordination committee.
The curfew was relaxed in different areas in a phased manner and it passed off peacefully, barring minor incidents of protests and stone-pelting in Fatehkadal and Batamaloo areas, an official spokesman said here.
One person was injured in police firing when the protesters clashed with the police in the Fatehkadal area of downtown, while several others were injured.
Reports of protest demonstrations and clashes with the police and the CRPF also came in from Batamaloo and Natipora localities of the city. The police also had a tough time in chasing away protesters in the Batagund area of Handwara in Kupwara district of north Kashmir.
Meanwhile, curfew was relaxed in a phased manner for varying periods in
Pampore, Awantipora, Pulwama, Tral, Beerwah, Magam, Budgam, Soibug,
Chadoora, Anantnag, Bijbehara, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Trehgam and in most parts of the city.
It was relaxed from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm in areas falling under the police stations of Pantha Chowk, Ram Munshi Bagh, Nishat, Kothibagh, Maisuma, Nehru Park, Kralkhud, Shergari, Shaheed Gunj, Karan Nagar, Batamaloo, Saddar, Nowgam, Chanpura, Rajbagh, Nigeen, Lal Bazar, Soura, Zakoora, Zadibal and Parimpora.
The relaxation period was extended up to 7 pm, excluding the Police Station, Saddar. The curfew was also relaxed from 5 pm to 7 pm in areas falling under the Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj, Rainawari, Khanyar and Safa Kadal police stations.
The restrictions remained in force in Baramulla and Pulwama districts barring Awantipora where curfew was relaxed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., he said. In Kupwara district, curfew was relaxed only in Handwara town from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the spokesman said.
