Section 144 withdrawn, schools in Jammu open
Srinagar, Aug 10: Schools and colleges in Jammu have re-opened today. Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which bars the gathering of 4 persons or more has been withdrawn from the Jammu municipal limits. This was informed by Sushma Chauhan, the deputy magistrate of Jammu district.
Meanwhile, additional director general of police, law and order, Muneer Khan said that , in Jammu the situation is normal. In Kashmir, it is under control, he said, while adding that all steps are being taken to ensure that law and order is maintained.
Earlier restrictions had been ahead of the Friday prayers in Jammu and Kashmir.
The
Director
General
of
Police,
Dilbag
Singh
said
that
people
are
being
allowed
to
pray
within
their
neighbourhood,
but
should
not
venture
out
of
their
local
area.
The
Friday
prayers
at
the
Jama
Masjid
were
no
observed
as
the
gates
remain
shut.
Governor Malik takes round of Srinagar city, visits hospitals, assesses situation
The decision to ease the restrictions was taken after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval directed authorities to ensure that no Kashmiris were harassed, they said.
Security forces have been put on high alert across the Kashmir Valley preempting possible protests against the scrapping of special status to Jammu and Kashmir and dividing it into two union territories, another set of officials said.
The decision was taken as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, a day after restrictions in some parts of the civil lines areas of the city and Dal Lake were relaxed to allow free movement of people, they said.
"In view of expected gathering of people at mosques for Friday prayers, there is apprehension of mass protests and accordingly necessary steps were taken to ensure peace," a security official said earlier in the day.
President Kovind gives assent to law dividing J&K into 2 Union Territories
Security forces have been deployed in massive numbers across the Valley, particularly in Srinagar city and major towns, and barricades have been erected every 100 metres and only people allowed to pass are those with medical emergencies.
All telephone and internet connections have been snapped in the Valley and only three news channels, including state-run Doordarshan, can be accessed through cable TV networks.