JK: Curfew in more areas; Omar meets Sonia

Srinagar/New Delhi, Sep 13: Curfew was clamped in more parts of the Kashmir valley in the wake of the fresh eruption of violence, while Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah flew to the capital to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Omar Abdullah met Sonia Gandhi for a brief period of 15 minutes ahead of the crucial Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on the issue of partial withdrawal of controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from Jammu Kashmir.

The proposed withdrawal and amendment of AFSPA was promised to the people of Kashmir by the government as part of its Eid package to put an end to the spiraling violence in the state.

Congress core committee including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well as Sonia Gandhi is split
on the issue. Besides this, the sudden outbreak of violence after Eid prayers on Saturday, Sep 11 has changed the scenario.

Meanwhile in Kashmir valley, curfew was clamped in more areas of the Kashmir Valley in view of incidents of violence in several parts and a protest march called by the separatists in Srinagar.

“Curfew has been imposed in parts of Budgam district stretching from Hyderpora to district headquarter town and three towns of Pulwama district as a precautionary measure," a police spokesman said, adding that restrictions have been imposed in Awantipora, Lethpora and Pampore towns of Pulwama, which fall on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.

Curfew also remained in force in Srinagar city, Anantnag and Bijbehara towns in south Kashmir and Sopore town in north Kashmir"s Baramulla district for the second day.

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