Curfew in several areas of Kashmir ahead of planned march

Srinagar, Aug 26 (PTI) Curfew was today extended toseveral areas of Kashmir to foil a planned march byseparatists to Eidgah in old city area as normal lifecontinued to remain paralysed for the 49th consecutive day inthe Valley in the wake of violence following the killing ofHizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani last month. "Curfew has been extended to entire Srinagar district,Pulwama district and south Kashmir towns of Shopian andAnantnag," a police official said. He said north Kashmir towns of Baramulla, Pattan andHandwara were also placed under curfew while restrictions onassembly of people were in force in rest of the Valley. The curfew was extended to thwart a march planned byseparatist groups of Eidgah ground in Old city this afternoonafter Friday prayers. Meanwhile, normal life remained paralysed for the 49thconsecutive day due to curfew, restrictions and separatistsponsored strike. Shops, private offices, educational institutions andpetrol pumps remained closed while public transport continuedto be off roads. The attendance in government offices and banks was alsoaffected, the official said. Mobile internet also continued to remain suspended inthe entire Valley, where the outgoing facility on prepaidmobiles remained barred. The separatist camp, which is spearheading the agitationin the Valley over the civilian deaths during the protestsagainst Wani’s killing, have extended the strike call in theValley till September 1. As many as 66 persons, including two police personnel,have been killed and several thousand others injured in theclashes that began on July 9, a day after Wani was killed inan encounter with security forces in Kokernag area of southKashmir s Anantnag district. PTI MIJRT