Authorities imposed a lockdown in the Kashmir Valley yesterday, anticipating fresh unrest as separatists urged protests to mark the anniversary of a rebel leader’s death.
Tension had been building ahead of the anniversary with three civilians, including a teenage girl, killed during clashes on Saturday between protesters and troops.
Mobile Internet services were shut down across Jammu and Kashmir, roads into the restive valley were blocked and restrictions on movement were imposed in Srinagar.
Authorities have clamped a total curfew in Tral, the native home of rebel commander Burhan Wani.
The charismatic young leader’s death in 2016 sparked months of violent street protests that left nearly 100 dead and countless more blinded by pellet fire following a crackdown.
Separatist leaders urged shopkeepers to keep their businesses closed in protest to mark Wani’s death.
Senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq were placed under house arrest while Mohamed Yasin Malik was taken into preventive custody in Srinagar.
Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway was suspended.
Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary forces were deployed in sensitive areas in Srinagar and other district headquarters.
Amarnath pilgrims were not allowed to move towards the cave shrine from Jammu due to the shutdown in the valley, police said.
A trooper patrols a deserted street during a protest called by separatists to mark the second death anniversary of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani, in Tral yesterday.
