Police stand guard outside Maisuma during a strike called by separatists to protest proposed ‘composite townships’ for migrant Kashmiri Pandits. Mubashir Khan/GK

Curfew has been lifted from entire Kashmir valley today following improvement in the overall situation. However, the restrictions under Section 144 on the assembly of people will remain imposed in most of the areas to maintain law and orders. Shops, business establishment and petrol pumps continued remain shut in Srinagar and elsewhere in the valley on the 79th consecutive day while public transport was off the roads.

“The entire Kashmir Valley is curfew-free today but restrictions are in place in many parts as a precautionary measure,” a police official said.

He said the curfew was lifted following improvement in the situation yesterday.

There were no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere in the Valley today.

Shops and other business establishments remained closed due to separatist call for shut down for the 79th straight day while public transport remained off the roads.

However, markets are expected to open at 2 PM as the separatist groups have announced a 16-hour relaxation in the shutdown till 6 AM tomorrow.

Mobile, internet services also remain suspended since July 9 while the outgoing calls on prepaid mobile numbers continue to remain barred across the valley. Shops, business establishments and markets are expected to open as the Separatists have announced relaxation in shut down programme from 2 PM onwards today till 6 AM tomorrow.

Separatists have extended the shut down programme till 29th of this month. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the valley so far. The death toll stands at 87 that includes two policemen in the ongoing unrest since July 09.