Curfew in Srinagar over violence, rising COVID cases

SRINAGAR: Curfew was clamped in Srinagar from Monday night. The authorities said that curbs would continue to be in force in Jammu and Kashmir’s summer capital on Tuesday and Wednesday to hold back protests and ensure maintenance of law and order on the first anniversary of the Centre’s stripping the state of its special status and splitting it up into two Union Territories.

Curfew or curfew-like restrictions are likely to be imposed on some other towns of the Valley as well whereas the security is being beefed up further in various parts of Jammu region.

The authorities have also announced the extension of the virtual lockdown necessitated by the spoke in COVID-19 deaths and positive cases till August 8.

Kashmir Valley reported 433 and Jammu 157 fresh positive cases whereas eleven more people died of the virus on Monday, taking the toll to 407. The number of positive cases has already crossed the 22,000 mark.

Srinagar’s District Magistrate Shahid Iqbal Choudhary in an order said that the concerned SSP has reported that a series of inputs have been received suggesting that separatist and Pakistan sponsored groups are planning to observe August 5 as a ‘black day’ and, therefore, there is apprehension of “violent actions and protests” which could “endanger public life and property.”

The DC said that such an activity could also defeat the purpose of imposing lockdown to stem further spread of Coronavirus. Therefore, it was decided to clamp curfew and strict security restrictions in the entire district with immediate effect till Wednesday night, he said adding that COVID-19 related emergency services have, however, been exempted from curfew restrictions.