Kashmir Valley shut for 62nd consecutive day

Srinagar, Sep 8: Authorities made heavy deployment of security forces in Srinagar and other areas of the Kashmir Valley on Thursday as life remained paralysed for the 62nd consecutive day, officials said.

A senior police officer said deployment of security forces in sufficient strength have been made in old city and uptown areas of Srinagar and other parts of the valley.

"Curfew has not been imposed anywhere in the valley on Thursday," the officer said.

The militants attacked Pulwama police station in the early hours of Thursday.

Police said there were exchange of fire between the militants and security forces for around 15 minutes after which the militants escaped.

The militants also snatched and decamped with four weapons from the residential guards of a regional National Conference (NC) block president in D.H. Pora village of Kulgam district.

For the last 62 days, educational institutions, main markets, public transport and other businesses have remained closed in Kashmir Valley.

Seventy-six people including 73 civilians and three policemen have been killed during the ongoing cycle of violence that started on July 9.

Separatists have been issuing weekly protest calendars during this period asking people to continue the protest shutdown. They have issued a fresh protest calendar extending the shutdown and protests till September 16.

They have asked people to march to the office of the United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in Srinagar city on September 13, the day Muslims would be celebrating the holy festival of Eid-ul-Azha.

IANS