Restrictions on movement of people in Kashmir Valley eased

Srinagar, August 17

Restrictions on the movement of people in the Kashmir Valley were eased on Saturday, with landline services restored in some areas of the city, even as stringent security arrangements continued to be in place, officials said.

The restrictions were eased on Saturday morning to facilitate the movement of government employees towards their offices, they said.

The officials said the security forces continued to remain deployed, while barricades remained on the roads, but people were allowed to move after checking their credentials.

"The administration is closely monitoring the whole situation and so far no untoward incident has been reported from anywhere in the Valley", government spokesperson Rohit Kansal said at a press conference.

Swayam Prakash Pani, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, and Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar, Director Information and Public Relations, were also present.

IGP Pani said the administration is calibrating the situation and the restrictions are being eased in a gradual manner.
So far the restrictions have been lifted from 35 police stations, including North, South Kashmir and Central Kashmir, the IGP said.

Landline services were restored in some areas like Raj Bagh and Jawahar Nagar, but remained suspended in most parts, including the commercial hub of Lal Chowk, Press Enclave and other areas around it, the official said.

There was increase in movement of private vehicles in the Civil Lines area and other district headquarters of the Valley, the officials said, adding that some inter-district cabs were also seen plying in Dalgate area of the summer capital.

Some shops in the Civil Lines areas of the city opened on Saturday morning, the officials said. However, most of the business establishments, including petrol pumps, remained shut. PTI