Curfew partially lifted in Kashmir's Sopore township

SRINAGAR: Barring a few sensitive localities, curfew was today lifted from north Kashmir's Sopore township following improvement in law and order situation, three days after restrictions were imposed in the wake of killing of a youth in an alleged security forces firing.

"Curfew was lifted from most parts of Sopore but continued at a few sensitive places including the main town as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order," a police spokesman said.

He said there was no report of any untoward incident from the areas from where the curfew was lifted last night.

"We are monitoring the situation and a decision on lifting of restrictions from other parts will be taken accordingly," the spokesman said.

A youth, Arshad Ahmad Shah, was killed on June 23 and four others injured when security forces allegedly opened fire to disperse a group of stone-pelting protesters in Krankishivan locality of the town.

The security forces were leaving Tarzoo area of Sopore after concluding an anti-militancy operation in which a top Pakistani "commander" of Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit was killed, police had said.

Following the killing of the youth, authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in the town as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.

The government has constituted an enquiry committee comprising district magistrate Baramulla to ascertain the factual position with respect to the causes and circumstances of the firing incident.