Kashmir remains shut for 70 consecutive days

Srinagar, Sept 16: Curfew like restrictions were imposed by authorities in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir Valley on Friday to prevent separatists called protests.

The authorities did not mention if there would be curfew anywhere in the valley on Friday, but deployed security forces were disallowing all pedestrian and vehicular movement in old city areas of Srinagar as well as other major cities and towns in the valley.

With the death of two more injured youths, the toll in the ongoing unrest in the valley since July 9, has risen to 88.

Basit Mukhtar, 21, who was injured in clashes with the security forces in Pulwama district on September 5, sccummed to his injuries in a hospital on Friday.

Rasiq Ahmad Bhat, 25, another youth injured in Kulgam district on September 5 had died in the hospital on Thursday.

The separatists on Friday issued their fresh weekly protest calendar which is harsher than the ones they had been issuing during the previous weeks of the unrest.

While calling for daily protests and rallies during the next seven days, the separatists said there would be no relaxation in the protest shut down during this period.

In their previous weekly protest calendars, separatists had been allowing opening of markets and passage of people from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

All educational institutions, main markets, public transports and other businesses have remained closed in Kashmir Valley for the past 70 days.

IANS