Undeclared curfew cripples life in Kashmir yet again

Srinagar, Nov 28 (UNI) Undeclared curfew crippled life yet again in the summer capital, Srinagar, and other major towns and tehsils in the Kashmir valley where authorities fear trouble because of Friday.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police personnel are out on the streets since early today, strictly imposing the restrictions in the city and its outskirts.

However, those going to hospitals and attending condolence meetings of their dead relatives or friends were being allowed to go.

Students, including those of lower classes, were seen waiting for school buses at different bus stops in the city. However, they were later directed by the security forces to return to their homes.

State and Central government officials were also not allowed to commute and they were asked to go back.

Major security checks of vehicles, coming from uptown to city, were being conducted near Bakshi stadium where one portion of the road has been closed for traffic. Both way traffic on this Srinagar- Airport road was now plying on one portion of the road.

However, in the Sher-e-Khas and other downtown areas, the situation was totally different as no one was allowed to enter these areas from outskirts.

We make arrangements, purchase milk, bread and vegetables a day before strike or curfew,'' said Zahoor Ahmad, a teacher at Sher-e-Khas. He said ''But today we were taken by surprise by the authorities, who imposed undeclared curfew as there was a call for holding demonstrations after Friday prayers.'' Government offices, educational institutions, banks, government ration depots and petrol pumps wore a deserted look because of undeclared curfew.

Reports from south Kashmir and north Kashmir also said undeclared curfew had paralysed life as nobody was being allowed to move out of their houses.

UNI BAS RC KN1236