Srinagar : A day after a teenager was killed in clashes, tension prevailed in Kashmir with authorities today sealing roads leading to the Lal Chowk city centre here in view of separatists’ call to lock down public broadcasting services.
Although the entire Kashmir Valley was curfew-free, security forces have imposed restrictions on movement of people at many places in old city.
Security forces have been deployed in strength around the premises of Doordarshan, Radio Kashmir and the state’s Information Department in the wake of the separatists asking people to block all roads near these institutions.
The roads leading to them and Lal Chowk have been sealed by placing concertina wires at important intersections.
“There is no curfew anywhere in Kashmir today. The heavy deployment of security forces at some places is to maintain law and order,” a police official said.
He, however, said restrictions on the assembly of people under Section 144 CrPC were in place across the Valley.
A teenager was killed yesterday and over 100 others hurt in security forces action against violent protesters in Ladoora area of Sopore in north Kashmir Baramulla district, taking the death toll in the ongoing unrest in the Valley to 69.
Meanwhile, normal life remained affected due to the separatist sponsored strike on 55th day as educational institutions and private offices were closed while public transport continued to be off the roads.
The separatists, who are spearheading the ongoing agitation for right to self determination in Jammu and Kashmir, have extended the shutdown programme till September 8.
PTI