Life crippled in Kashmir amid eerie calm and curfew (Roundup)

Normal life across the Kashmir Valley remained crippled for the sixth day on Thursday due to strict curfew and a separatist-called shutdown amid calm on the streets rocked by days of violent protests over the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani.

A police spokesman said that the "overall situation throughout the valley" was under control. But some stray incidents of stone pelting were reported from different areas in which none was hurt.

However, an angry mob set ablaze a hideout in south Kashmir where Wani was killed on July 8. The residential house in Wai-Damdooru village belonged to an uncle of Wani's aide, Sartaj, who was also gunned down along with the commander.

Earlier on Thursday, an injured youth died in a hospital here, taking the death toll to 38 in the current bout of violence that has rocked the Kashmir Valley.

The deceased was identified as Irshad Ahmed Dar of south Kashmir - the worst hit region in the days of street violence, the deadliest the Valley has seen in years.

Dar succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS hospital in Srinagar where he was admitted two days ago. He had received bullet injuries during a clash with police in his village in Kulgam district, some 60 km from here.

Police said curfew would continue across the valley on Friday amid apprehensions that people may take to the streets after the weekly congregational midday prayers.

Separatists have appealed to people to offer funeral prayers in absentia for those who have been killed in the unrest.

Curfew was imposed in the valley on July 9 to control large scale violence that spilled following the killing of top Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani, 22, in a gunfight a day earlier.

Train services between north Kashmir's Baramulla town and Jammu region's Bannihal town also remained suspended for the sixth day. Cellphone and mobile Internet services continued to be suspended in large parts of the crisis-hit Valley in the wake of mass protests.

All exams scheduled up to July 17 have been postponed and authorities said fresh dates would be announced later.

--IANS

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