Srinagar, March 4: The situation remained peaceful in the Valley on Wednesday, as authorities continued to impose restrictions throughout the day.
Authorities said the same restrictions will continue on March 5 as well.
Minor clashes between the protesters and police in the Pattan area of Baramulla district were reported on Wednesday.
Internet services will also continue to be available at 2G speeds, while services on prepaid cell phones will remain suspended till further notice.
Another official said that mobile internet services across the Valley have been restricted to 2G speed and the arrangement will remain in place till Thursday evening.
It’s in place to mention here that security personnel have been deployed in strength at several locations, with barricades erected in vulnerable pockets. Additional forces have also been stationed in areas that witnessed processions and rallies over the past few days.
While authorities maintained that the overall law and order situation is under control, peaceful rallies and processions were reported from parts of Sopore in Baramulla district, as well as Budgam and Bandipora districts.
In Srinagar, security forces maintained a visible presence in downtown localities and commercial hubs to deter gatherings. Movement of vehicles was largely normal in most areas, though some localities witnessed restrictions on assembly.
Officials said district administrations were closely monitoring developments and were in touch with community leaders to prevent any untoward incident.
“No major incident has been reported so far. Preventive measures are in place to ensure peace,” an official said.
He said further decisions regarding relaxation of curbs would be taken based on the ground situation.
A large deployment of police and the CRPF had been made to impose restrictions. Authorities have also lodged FIRs against some people for uploading objectionable content on the Internet.
MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and former Srinagar mayor, Junaid Azim Mattu, are among those against whom FIRs have been lodged for allegedly posting “provocative” content.
These restrictions have been imposed as a precautionary measure following protests in parts of the Valley over the death of Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a US-Israeli bombing.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also interacted with members of the civil society, including religious, social and business communities in Srinagar.
Omar Abdullah also offered prayers for those, including Ayatullah Ali Khamenei and others, killed in recent developments in Iran.
Chief Minister called for peace and communal harmony after meeting civil society groups in Srinagar, urging people to express their emotions and grievances peacefully while upholding the spirit of brotherhood and unity.
Omar Abdullah emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and harmony in Jammu & Kashmir while respecting people’s sentiments and ensuring that expressions of grief and mourning remain peaceful and responsible.
Schools, colleges and universities in the Valley will remain closed till March 7. (inputs from KNO)
