J-K: Curfew lifted in some parts, normal life resumes

Normal life on Saturday resumed in Kashmir after five days of shutdown, curfew in some parts of the valley, and clashes that left nearly 200 people injured.

Shops, offices, business establishments and banks opened on Saturday after five days as authorities lifted curfew imposed in most parts of Kashmir. Public transport also started plying normally on all routes of the valley.

Curfew was imposed in most parts of the valley as a precautionary measure to foil plans of separatists to hold protests. Majlis Mashawarat (Consultative Committee), an amalgamation of separatist groups, is spearheading an agitation seeking return of mortal remains of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat to their families.

Guru and Bhat were hanged and buried inside Tihar Jail on February 9, 2013 and February 11, 1984 respectively. The Majlis has said there will be no strike on Saturday and Sunday and asked people to carry out normal activities.

Sporadic protests have been going on in many parts of Kashmir since the hanging of Guru. The situation deteriorated following death of a Kashmiri student in Hyderabad on March 2 and killing of a youth allegedly in Army firing at Baramulla on Tuesday.

According to the police, nearly 200 people -- mostly security force personnel -- have been injured in clashes between stonepelting youth and law enforcing agencies in the valley after Guru was hanged.