Kashmir unrest: Curfew persists for 39th consecutive day

Restrictions were tighter on Independence Day as separatists had called for pro-freedom protest

Normal life remained paralysed for the 39th consecutive day in the Kashmir valley due to curfew, restrictions and separatist sponsored strike following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8.

More than 60 persons, including two policemen have been killed, and several thousand others have been injured in the clashes that began on July 9.

However, restrictions were tighter on Monday as separatists had called for pro-freedom protests to mark the Independence Day.

Two terrorists were killed by the army yesterday morning, in the Uri sector along The Line of Control (LoC), foiling their infiltration attempt.

In the Nowhatta terror attack, a CRPF commandant and two militants were killed in a gunfight despite the strict curfew in the Valley in view of terror threats on India's Independence Day.

Reports of five CRPF jawans and one policeman getting injured in the Nowhatta district, after three terrorists attacked security forces in Srinagar, came in on the morning of India's 70th Independence Day. Police reinforcements were rushed in as the exchange of fire continued.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who was participating in the Independence Day celebrations in Srinagar's Bakshee Stadium, urged the people to denounce violence in the valley and said, "If we can't find our solution in the world's biggest democracy, we won't find it anywhere else.