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Srinagar, Aug 12 (UNI) Expressing grief and sorrow over yesterday's violence in Kashmir, in which 8 people lost their lives and more than 300 were wounded, Jammu and Kashmir government has appealed to people to help restore normalcy in the valley.

Indefinite curfew has been imposed in Srinagar and other major towns of the valley as a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident, officials said.

Principal Secretary Home Anil Goswami some people were killed and scores were injured in yesterday's day long clashes, forcing authorities to impose curfew. He appealed to people to help the administration bring back normalcy in the valley.

Director General of police Kuldeep Khuda said the firing in which senior Hurriyat Conference (HC) leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz was killed would be investigated.

''We will investigate the reasons under which police had to open fire, '' he said.

However, he said, there was no justification for Muzaffarabad march call since the government had made adequate security and other arrangments for the smooth movement of trucks and tankers on the highway.

The state police chief said more then average trucks and tankers arrived here yesterday from Jammu. He said Army, CRPF and police have been deployed for the safe movement on the highway adding that since the Muzaffarabad march call was given, a number of processions were taken out in the valley.

However, at Qamarwari and Baramulla, the processionists turned violent, he said asserting that the curfew was clamped down to maintain law and order in the valley.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Masood Samoon said the authorities did not want to impose curfew as it creates a lot of problem for the common people.

''We impose curfew for the protection of lives and property of the people, '' he said and expressed grief over the deceased in yesterday's clashes.

UNI BAS QAB ARB KN1121