Curfew restrictions were back on Friday in the Kashmir valley, including Srinagar, where normal life remained crippled for the 26th day since August 5, when Articles 370 and 35 A were abrogated by the Centre and the state bifurcated into two Union Territories.
Announcements were made in the city through public address system fitted on ‘Rakshak’ bullet proof vehicles of police, asking people to remain indoors as curfew was imposed since 0500 hours in the entire city.
”Curfew has been imposed and people are directed to remain indoors,” blared the public address system fitted on a vehicle at Rambagh. At Natipora, shopkeepers, who were plying their trade, for three hours from 0600 hrs to 0900 hrs in the morning were also directed to down shutters. Roadside hawkers were also directed to leave, a local said.
At Natipora, security forces remained deployed since early Friday morning to prevent assembly of people and demonstrations.
All roads leading to Lal Chowk were closed for traffic. Nobody was being allowed to enter the area. The Amira Kadal bridge, leading to Lal Chowk from Hari Singh High Street, was also closed with barbed wire. Even police and government vehicles were being directed to take Budshah Bridge route to reach civil secretariat, seat of the government. (UNI)
