Kashmir: Curfew imposed, cable operations suspended

A curfew was imposed on Monday morning across Kashmir valley in the wake of the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in Tihar Jail.

Police and paramilitary troops have been deployed across Kashmir to maintain law and order.

The authorities have ordered all cable operators in Kashmir to suspend their operation immediately.

The ruling National Conference and other major political parties in the state had been pleading for presidential clemency for Guru citing the sensitive situation in the valley.

The residents were taken by surprise at the sudden imposition of the curfew. Though the authorities had not revealed the reason for the sudden and severe security bandobast, the valley was agog with rumours that Guru had been hanged in Delhi.

Early on Saturday, police vehicles fitted with loud speakers started making rounds of the various parts of Srinagar other major towns, announcing the imposition of curfew and asking residents to stay indoors.

 Troops in full riot gear have started patrolling Srinagar, barricading roads to restrict the pedestrian and vehicular movement.

 “Curfew has been imposed in the valley and security forces have been deployed to maintain law and order,” said a police officer.

 He also said that army has also been alerted in the valley.

 Sources said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will soon reach Srinagar to oversee the law and order situation. 

The separatists have already called for a shutdown on Monday to coincide with the death anniversary of Maqbool Bhat, the pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front founder, in Tihar jail in Delhi on February 11, 1984.