Curfew relaxed in parts of Kashmir, shutdown continues for 52nd day

Curfew was relaxed in parts of Srinagar and other districts in the Valley, while shutdown and restrictions continued for 52nd consecutive day today.

Curfew was lifted from Anantnag town of South Kashmir and parts of Srinagar, while it remained in force in some parts of Srinagar under the jurisdictions of police station Maharajganj and Nowhatta in Srinagar.

The security forces were deployed in sensitive areas of the Valley to prevent any protests as Hurriyat Conference gave call for lockdown of all government offices except essential services.

Expressing regret and remorse over the loss of lives in the Kashmir Valley, Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday said that any life lost in the state, whether of any youth or any security personnel, is India's loss, adding that those instigating young, innocent children will have to answer to them someday.

Addressing the nation during his address in the 23rd edition of his 'Mann ki Baat' programme, Prime Minister Modi said, "Any life lost in Kashmir, whether of any youth or any security personnel, is our own loss. Those who are trying to disrupt peace in Kashmir by instigating innocent young children, they will have to reply to these young children."

The Prime Minister also said that all political parties need to put forward their views on the prevailing situation in the Kashmir Valley in one voice.

Prime Minister Modi had convened an-all party meet on August 12 to discuss the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir. He told attendees that Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir is also part of Jammu and Kashmir. The prime minister added that "there cannot be any compromise on national security, but we have to win the confidence of the people in Jammu and Kashmir.

The situation has become so grave that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had to spend two-days in Srinagar last week meeting with a cross-section of Kashmiri society and the state leadership to look for a way out of the present impasse caused by the protests over the elimination of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani last month.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also met Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi on Saturday and presented a three-point action plan, which includes having a substantive dialogue with separatists and Pakistan, to end the current unrest in the state.

The death toll in the valley has reached 67, as another youth succumbed to his injuries in clashes that broke out between security forces and the locals in Pulwama district on Friday.