Curfew lifted in Kashmir ahead of Eid

The entire Kashmir valley remained curfew-free after restrictions in a few places including Srinagar were lifted on Thursday ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr and the situation was calm after a fresh bout of unrest.

"Curfew has been lifted from all parts of Srinagar city, and Anatnag and Bijbehara towns in south Kashmir in view of Eid-ul Fitr and the situation is peaceful throughout the Valley," a police official said.

Separatists have also called for a break in strikes in view of the Eid festival to ease the situation.

Eid-ul Fitr will be celebrated tomorrow or Saturday, depending on the sighting of the new moon, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan. With the lifting of curfew coinciding with the separatists' decision not to call for strike, shoppers flocked markets and business establishments reopened in Srinagar and all major towns of the valley.

Traffic snarls were seen at many places as people came out to make festival purchases. Schools, colleges and banks reopened and public transport plied on the streets.

Curfew was imposed in Srinagar city on Tuesday and in Anantnag and Bijbehara towns on Wednesday after violent protests broke out in these areas over the killing of four persons allegedly in police firing at Palhalan in Pattan area of Baramulla district, 30km from Srinagar, on Monday.

Meanwhile, a police spokesperson said that several incidents of stone-pelting and arson were reported from different parts of Srinagar and Budgam district late last evening.

-Asian Tribune-