By IANS,
Srinagar : A general shutdown paralysed life across the Kashmir Valley Friday as authorities clamped strict restrictions in the old areas of this city to ward off trouble that had started earlier this week with the death of a schoolboy.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, the chairperson of the moderate Hurriyat group, continued to remain under house arrest for the second day. Two other moderate separatist leaders, Shabir Shah and Nayeem Khan, were arrested Wednesday to prevent them from participating in the protests here.
There was heavy deployment of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to enforce curfew-like restrictions in the old city.
However, the situation was similar in the rest of the city as well as in other parts of Kashmir like Baramulla, Budgam, Ganderbal and Anantnag with shops, banks, and other businesses closed and traffic off the roads even though no restrictions had been imposed.
Officials said they feared further violence in this summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Clashes between stone-pelting youth and security personnel had begun Sunday following the death of a 13-year-old schoolboy when he was hit on the head by a teargas shell in the Rajouri Kadal area of the old city.
“The restrictions have been imposed as a precautionary measure to protect public life and property,” a senior police official told IANS here.
According to official sources, the restrictions had been imposed in areas falling under the jurisdiction of five police stations of Khanyar, Nowhatta, M.R. Gunj, Rainawari and Safa Kadal.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had Thursday evening reviewed the law and order situation with senior police, paramilitary, intelligence and civil officers.
Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda has said the security forces had been instructed to maintain absolute restraint while dealing with the situation.