Curfew, shutdown continues in Kashmir

Curfew and separatist called shutdown continued in Kashmir on Friday for the 49th consecutive day bringing life to a standstill.

Police said curfew will continue without any relaxation in Anantnag, Pulwama, Badgam, Shopian and Srinagar city while restrictions would remain in force elsewhere in the Valley.

On Thursday evening, senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq was shifted to the nearby Nigeen police station from his residence where he had been placed under house arrest by the authorities.

The step according to sources was taken to prevent Farooq from addressing a Friday congregation in old city Srinagar through telephone. Separatists have extended the protest shutdown till September 1.

A total of 69 people have been killed and around 7,000 including 4000 security personnel injured in the ongoing unrest that started a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani was killed on July 8.