Curfew imposed in parts of Srinagar, Baramulla districts

SRINAGAR: Curfew was today clamped in parts of Srinagar and Baramulla districts of Kashmir as a preventive measure to foil hardline Hurriyat's plan to take out a march to Lal Chowk area.

"Curfew was imposed in the areas falling under the jurisdictions of police stations Kothibagh, Maisuma, Kralkhud, Sadder, Shergari, Shaheedgung, Batamaloo, Safakadal, M R Gung, Khanyar, Nowhatta, and Rainawari of Srinagar city," a police spokesman said.

He said similar restrictions were also enforced in Sopore town, Sangrama, Watergam, Dangiwacha and Ladoora areas of Baramulla district.

The curfew was imposed to thwart any bid by the Hurriyat faction headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani to march to Lal Chowk and hold a rally, official sources said.

They said concertina wires have been laid on the roads leading to Lal Chowk and barricades erected to prevent entry of people into the square.

Normal life was disrupted in many parts of Kashmir Valley due to the curfew imposed in these two districts and restrictions on the movement of people in some other areas, the sources said.

Shops and business establishments remained closed while public transport remained off the roads, they said.

However, the movement of school buses and students was not hindered by the security forces in view of the ongoing annual board examinations, the sources said.

The police spokesman said the preceding night passed off peacefully and the situation was so far under control in the Valley.