45th day of curfew, shutdown cripple Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 22: A day after a teenager was killed in clashes with the security forces, authorities decided to continue curfew in the entire Srinagar city on Monday.

"Curfew will continue in Srinagar without any relaxation today (Monday)," a police official said here.

Restrictions under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPc) have also been imposed in Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Pampore, Badgam, Sopore, Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Handwara, Awantipora and Qaimoh towns on Monday to maintain law and order in Kashmir Valley.

Irfan Ahmad, 17, from Fateh Kadal area of old Srinagar city was killed during clashes with the security forces in Malarata area on Sunday evening.

Ahmad was hit in the chest with a tear smoke shell. According to doctors, he was brought dead in the hospital.

With the teenager's death, the toll in the ongoing unrest in the valley has risen to 68.

Separatists have already extended the ongoing protest shutdown till August 25.

The valley has been crippled by officially imposed curfew and separatist called protest shutdown since July 9, a day after the killing of top militant, Burhan Wani, in a gunfight with the security forces.

Due to the deteriorating law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir and a general sense of insecurity, oil tanker owners association and truck owners association have decided not to carry the supplies of fuels and foods to the valley.

Authorities maintained that there was sufficient stock in the valley to last for at least two months without any replenishment.

The blockade of supplies from outside to the landlocked valley will hit the common Kashmiris hard unless the issue is resolved quickly.

IANS