Curfew clamped in some parts of Valley

Curfew was imposed in some areas of Srinagar city and parts of Kupwara and Banidpora districts in north Kashmir as authorities apprehended protests after Friday prayers.

Curfew was imposed in some areas of Srinagar city and parts of Kupwara and Banidpora districts in north Kashmir as authorities apprehended protests after Friday prayers.

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"Curfew has been clamped in Rainawari, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Safakadal and Maharajgunj police station areas in old Srinagar city," a police spokesman said here.

He said similar restrictions were also imposed in Kupwara, Trehgam, Kralpora and Bandipora towns in north Kashmir.

However, curfew was relaxed from 9.00 AM onwards in parts of Kupwara district.

Official sources said curfew has been imposed as a precautionary measure as these areas have witnessed widespread protests after Friday prayers.

The old city, which also houses the historic Jamia Masjid, has been placed under curfew for the fourth consecutive Friday and no congregational prayers have been offered when restrictions were put in place.

The spokesman said the situation across Kashmir Valley was peaceful so far. "The preceding night passed off peacefully and the situation at this hour is normal."

Shops, business establishments and private offices opened in most parts of the Valley, where there were no restrictions or curfew.

Transport services, both public and private, were plying on all intra-city and inter-district routes.

Hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, which is spearheading the ongoing agitation in the Valley, had exempted Thursday and Friday from the purview of its strike calendar.

However, shops and offices in Abi Guzar area in Lal Chowk remained closed in protest against the arrest of an alleged stone-pelter from the area last evening.

Police had fired several warning shots as local residents tried to resist the arrest of Mohammad Altaf Shiekh alias Shera.

Kashmir Valley has been in a grip of protests, strikes and curfew since June when a 17-year-old boy was killed by a tear smoke shell allegedly fired by police at Rajouri Kadal area of the city.