Srinagar, Aug 3: The government on Tuesday imposed curfew in Kashmir, continuing till August 5, marking the first anniversary of the revocation of Article 370 of the Indian constitution which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. On August 5 last year, the ruling BJP government at the centre divided the erstwhile state into union territories of J&K and Ladakh.
The decision to impose the curfew was taken at a core group meeting of police, army and intelligence agencies operating in the Kashmir Valley. The meeting was co-chaired by General Officer Commanding 15 Corps B S Raju and Director General J&K Police Dilbag Singh. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole also attended the meeting.
Announcing the curfew for the two days, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Choudhary by citing a report from Senior superintendent of Police of the district said that a series of inputs have been received suggesting that “separatist and Pak sponsored groups are planning to observe 5th August as Black Day, therein apprehensions of violation action or protests are not ruled out.”
“The report has further made a case that to prevent such violence and loss of life and property, it’s imminent to impose curfew in the district,” Choudhary said, adding, “Therefore, after having considered the material facts in report and examining the situation in backdrop of prevailing factors, I, District Magistrate, Srinagar, by virtue of powers vested in me u/s 144 Cr PC hereby order complete restrictions on public movement / curfew in territorial jurisdiction of District Srinagar.”
Further, he said medical emergencies and movement of staff on COVID-19 duty with pass/Valid Cards shall be exempted from the restrictions. “Additional Deputy Commissioner (Adm), Srinagar shall deploy one Magistrate each to coordinate implementation in each Police Stations jurisdictions,” he said, adding, “These restrictions shall come into force with immediate effect and shall remain in force on 4th and 5th August 2020.
In the meantime, he said, the restrictions previously ordered on July 31 on account of Covid-19 shall continue thereafter till 8th August “unless revised earlier.”
Meanwhile, a senior police officer said that tough restrictions shall continue in all parts of the Kashmir.
