Sabzar Bhat killing: 2nd day of curfew-like restrictions in Kashmir Valley

Curfew-like restrictions continued in parts of Kashmir for the second consecutive day on Monday as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Bhat in an encounter with security forces.

The restrictions were in place in seven police station areas of Srinagar — Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal, M R Gunj, Rainawari, Kralkhud and Maisuma, officials said.

Strict restrictions also continued in Anantnag and Shopian districts and Pulwama town in south Kashmir and in the township of Sopore in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, the officials said.

In all, restrictions were in place in four out of the 10 districts in the valley.

They said Section 144 of CrPc continued in the districts of Budgam and Ganderbal in central Kashmir.

The officials said the curbs in these areas continued for the second day as a pre-emptive measure to prevent the spread of violent protests which took place on Saturday immediately after Bhat was killed along with his colleague in an encounter in the Soimoh area of Tral in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

A civilian was also killed allegedly in cross firing between militants and security forces during the encounter.

Though there were few stone-pelting incidents in some areas of the Valley on Sunday, the situation remained under control.

A police spokesman said on Sunday that there were six incidents of stone pelting in Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Sopore, but the situation across the Valley remained peaceful and under control.

He said that police and security forces used maximum restraint while dealing with the situation at these places and miscreants were chased away.

Meanwhile, normal life remained affected in the rest of the Valley for the second day due to a two-day strike called by separatists to protest the killing of the two militants and the use of "brute force" against protestors.

The separatist trio – chairmen of both factions of the Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and JKLF chief Yasin Malik – have also called for a march to Tral on Tuesday to pay tributes to the slain militants.

While Malik was arrested from his residence here on Sunday, Geelani and Mirwaiz are under house detention.

The authorities have suspended mobile internet services in the Valley, while the outgoing call facility on prepaid numbers has also been snapped as a precautionary measure.

Kashmir University has postponed all examinations scheduled to be held on Monday and Tuesday.

A spokesman for the university said fresh dates for the deferred examinations shall be notified later.

Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, on Sunday also postponed the examination scheduled for Monday.

The university also suspended the class work on Monday in view of the prevailing situation.

Schools and colleges have also been closed for Monday in Srinagar and for two days in Pulwama.