On the eve of Eid, restrictions reimposed in Kashmir

A day after the Jammu and Kashmir authorities eased curbs on the movement of residents in Srinagar, the prohibitory order was reimposed in the city on Sunday, say reports. The Valley, which has been under a lockdown ever since India revoked the special status of the state on August 5, had witnessed sporadic clashes on Saturday.

Quoting unnamed sources, the NDTV reported that police vehicles were seen making announcements on loudspeakers asking people to return to their homes, and shopkeepers have been told to shut their shops.

On Saturday, with the administration relaxing the restrictions, hundreds of men and women were seen thronging the streets to buy essential items for Eid-ul-Azha celebration that falls on Monday.

Meanwhile, J&K police chief Dilbagh Singh dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claim that  huge protests have taken place in the state, and said there has been no untoward incident "barring minor stone-pelting which was dealt with on the spot". The Union home ministry also trashed reports of large-scale protests in the state.

A top government official on Sunday told PTI that people in the Kashmir Valley would be allowed to offer prayers in mosques during Eid and restrictions on mobile and landline phones would be lifted as early as possible.

Last Friday, people were allowed to visit neighborhood mosques and offer prayers there. However, large gatherings were not allowed in any part of the Valley.

The restrictions were imposed on August 5 when Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the central government has decided abrogation of special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and creation of two new UTs—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh—after bifurcating the state.