Curfew lifted, life returns to normal in Valley

Curfew was on Friday lifted from Anantnag after four days even as life returned to normal in the Kashmir Valley after hardline Hurriyat Conference suspended protests for the day, the last Friday of Ramzan.

"Curfew was lifted from Anantnag town on Friday morning as the law and order situation improved and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the area over the past three days," a senior police officer said.

Curfew was imposed in the town on August 30 after a youth was allegedly killed in firing by security forces.

However, curfew was imposed in Kunzar area along the Srinagar-Gulmarg road, 35 kms from Srinagar, following protests, official sources said.

They said the residents were protesting against the alleged police inaction in the case relating to the murder of 17-year-old Sameera last month.

Elsewhere in the Valley, life returned to normal after Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led Hurriyat suspended the agitation programme in view of the last Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramzan.

Shops and other commercial establishments opened early in the morning as people flocked markets to make preparations for Id.

The unusually high rush in the markets was due to the agitation calendar issued by Geelani on Thursday, which exempted September 5 and 9 from strikes before Id.

However, schools and government offices remained closed on Friday after the state government announced a public holiday.

All modes of public transport could be seen plying on the roads with many intersections in the city witnessing massive traffic jams. Serpentine queues were seen outside banks and ATMs.

The Valley has been rocked by violence following the death of a teenager on June 11 after he was allegedly hit by a tear smoke shell near Rajouri Kadal area of the old city.

Street protests broke out in the Valley which has claimed 65 lives so far.