Curfew in Kashmir: Article 370 scrapped, fear over separatists observing Aug 5 as ‘Black Day’

Srinagar: Curfew has been imposed in Kashmir valley on Tuesday and Wednesday as the country’s newest Union Territory marks a year since it was formed. The Srinagar district magistrate in an order said they have got information about “separatists and Pakistan sponsored groups planning to observe August 5 as Black Day”.

Curfew has been imposed in Kashmir valley on Tuesday and Wednesday as the country’s newest Union Territory marks a year since it was formed. The Srinagar district magistrate in an order said they have got information about “separatists and Pakistan sponsored groups planning to observe August 5 as Black Day”.

People engaged in essential services amid the Covid-19 pandemic are allowed to move, the order said.

Similar curfew had been imposed from early August last year after the centre scrapped special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and divided the state into two Union Territories, the other being Ladakh. Hundreds of political leaders had been detained or arrested. Many leaders are still under house arrest, including former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.

The order for the fresh curfew also said the measures will reinforce COVID-19 restrictions that are already in place at containment zones. “…Movement and assembly of people have been prohibited to avoid spread (of COVID-19) particularly in wake of recent spike. Thus, any mass gathering would be detrimental to efforts related to COVID-19 containment as well,” the district magistrate said.

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah, who was released on March 11 after nearly eight months in detention, tweeted the “preparations (for restrictions) start a full 24 hours earlier this year compared to 2019.”

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