Kashmir opens three days after killing of Hizbul militant Sabzar Bhat

Sabzar Bhat, believed to be the successor of slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, was gunned down at a hideout in Tral in Kashmir.

The Kashmir valley kicked back to normalcy on Wednesday as authorities lifted the curfew and restrictions that were placed after Hizbul Mujahideen militant Sabzar Bhat was killed in a gunfight with security forces last Saturday.

A security man stands guard at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Tuesday.(PTI Photo)

Traffic plied normally on all routes and all shops, business establishments, offices and most schools remained open and functioned normally.

The state government, however, kept several higher secondary schools and colleges across Kashmir closed. The step may have come keeping in mind the sporadic protests by students over the last few weeks.

Mobile internet services continue to remain suspended.

Bhat, 27, believed to be the successor of slain Hizbul commander Burhan Wani, was gunned down at a hideout in Tral.

Soon after Bhat’s killing, there was a spontaneous shutdown in protest and stone-peltings across the valley. Scores were injured and at least 13 people were hit in their eyes by pellets and brought to Srinagar’s SMHS hospital.

Anticipating trouble, the administration imposed curfew and restrictions since Sunday and snapped mobile internet services and mobile services on prepaid numbers.

Kashmir is on the boil since the killing of Wani -- a poster-boy of home-grown militancy -- deepened anti-India sentiments in the valley. Nearly 100 people were killed in street protests and hundreds of others were blinded or maimed by pellets in clashes with forces.

Recent videos of alleged human right violations by forces, including the parading of a Kashmiri man tied to an army vehicle, have also fanned public anger.