Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday announced imposition of curfew in parts of the summer capital on Friday to scuttle attempts by Shia mourners to take out the Muharram procession through the city.
The decision to impose curfew in the areas falling under seven police stations was taken by the district administration, officials said.
They said the curfew will be strictly imposed on Friday in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of Police stations Kothi Bagh, Maisuma, Kralkhud, M R Gunj, Safa Kadal, Nowhatta and Khanyar, covering major parts of the city.
The imposition of curfew coincided with the threat of chairman of moderate Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umer Farooq that he will defy the restrictions on his movement and will offer on Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid.
Mirwaiz could not offer on Friday prayers at the historic mosque, falling under the jurisdiction of Police station Nowhatta, for over one month due to his house arrest.
A spokesman of the traffic control said there will be no traffic movement from Jehangir Chowk to Dalgate bridge via Maulana Azad road in view of the curfew.
{{/usCountry}}A spokesman of the traffic control said there will be no traffic movement from Jehangir Chowk to Dalgate bridge via Maulana Azad road in view of the curfew.
{{/usCountry}}"Traffic will not be allowed from Jehangir Chowk-Hari Singh High Street-Residency Road up to Radio Kashmir Crossing," the spokesman said.
He said that there will be no traffic movement on Friday in old city areas as well due to the imposition of the curfew.
Meanwhile on the eve of Muharram, Governor N N Vohra and chief minister Omar Abdullah paid tributes Hazrat Imam Hussain and his companions, who sacrificed their lives and tolerated worst kind of atrocities at Karbala in Iraq to safeguard righteousness, humanity and justice.