Kashmir Valley observed a complete shutdown on day 74 of ongoing civil uprising amid curfew-like restrictions at several places including in Old City areas while police slapped Public Safety Act (PSA) on 9 more persons.The curfew-like restrictions remained in force in five police station areas of Srinagar’s Old City including MR Gunj, Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, Rainawari and in Khanyar. Huge contingents of forces were deployed in all these areas who had erected steel wires and barricades to restrict civilian movement. In other areas of Srinagar, a complete shutdown was observed with all kinds of business and educational activities shut but private transport was plying normally in civil lines areas.The protesters enforcing shutdown at Batamaloo set ablaze a motorcycle at Batamaloo area of city. It was not immediately clear who owns the motorcycle. Police said that they are investigating the matter. The area witnessed protests earlier. Reports here said that the clashes erupted at several places in Old City after authorities lifted curbs in the evening but no one was reported to be injured.The restrictions also remained in force at Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam towns. Reports said that besides this, a complete shutdown was observed in all across Valley including in north Kashmir districts. There were reports of protests from Fatehpora Ganderbal against youth’s arrest while clashes erupted at Cherkote, Sogam, Kupwara in which one elderly person, Abdul Khaliq, was injured after being hit by a teargas shell.
Police sources meanwhile told news agency GNS that nine more persons including Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar and JKLF leader Noor Muhammad Kalwal have been booked under PSA and sent to various jails of the State including to Kot Balwal. According to a spokesman of Zonal Police Headquarters, Kashmir, situation in the valley remained under control today. “There was no curfew in the valley except the areas under few police stations in Srinagar,” he said. The spokesman said that increased movement of people and vehicular traffic was observed across the valley during the day.The spokesman said that during the past 24 hours, in its efforts to curb the activities of miscreants/ hooligans, police arrested 64 people involved in disturbing the situation by damaging civilian vehicles, stopping vehicular traffic and harassing people by placing obstructions on roads.The spokesman said that two incidents of arson were reported from Srinagar and Shopian. In Vehil Shopian a residential house was set on fire while as in Srinagar at Batamaloo a bike was set on fire by miscreants.(GNS)