Indian paramilitary troopers stand guard at a market during curfew-like restrictions in downtown Srinagar, summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, May 30, 2017. Curfew-like restrictions have been imposed in several areas of Srinagar to prevent protests and clashes. (Xinhua/Javed Dar)
SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Life across restive Indian-controlled Kashmir including the capital city Srinagar remained paralysed for the third day Tuesday due to indefinite curfew by authorities, officials said.
Authorities fearing clashes have deployed hundreds of India's paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and policemen in full-riot gears across major towns to impose strict restrictions and disallow protest demonstrations. The government forces have blocked roads by placing barricades and coils of concertina wire to impede free movement of people and vehicles.
Separatist groups had called for protest march to southern Tral town on Tuesday to offer congregational prayers for slain militant commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat and his associate Faizan Ahmad Bhat.
The duo was killed on Saturday during a gunfight at village Saimoo-Tral in Pulwama district, about 40 km south of Srinagar.
Following their killing, spontaneous shutdown was observed and clashes broke out in major towns including Srinagar. A civilian was killed and more than 50 people were injured in the protests.
Separatist groups called for a two-day strike beginning on Sunday.
Authorities imposed strict curfew and restrictions on Sunday and extended it until Tuesday, besides ordering closure of educational institutions on Monday and Tuesday to prevent protests from spreading.
"Curfew is in place in areas falling under seven police stations of Srinagar, besides towns in Anantnag and Pulwama," a police official told Xinhua. "Strict restrictions have been put in place at Tral by sealing all the roads leading to the town to foil proposed separatist march to native village of militant commander."
Sabzar Ahmad Bhat was successor of prominent militant commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani, who was killed last year.
Wani's killing triggered massive protests in the region for months and a security lockdown, during which at least 90 people most of them teenagers were killed and over 14,000 injured in police and paramilitary shooting during protests. Authorities also arrested around 8,000 civilians to contain the protests.
"Situation by and large remained peaceful since Sunday barring few stray incident of stone pelting," the police official said.
Markets, business establishments, educational institutions, banks, government offices remain closed and traffic is off the roads in wake of the curfew and shutdown call.
The pre-paid mobile phone and internet services continue to remain suspended in the region since Sunday in bid to prevent people from mobilizing.
The local government has placed key separatist leaders under house arrest fearing their participation in demonstrations would intensify anti-India protests and mobilize people in large numbers.
A separatist movement and guerrilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.
Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
