On anniversary of Article 370 repeal, fear of unrest, curfew in Srinagar

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration announced a two-day curfew — on August 4 and 5 — in Srinagar as a precautionary measure against possible unrest on Wednesday, the first anniversary of the nullification of Articles 370 and 35A by the Centre. The move on August 5 last year had paved the way for the reorganization of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
An order issued by Srinagar District Magistrate Shahid Iqbal Choudhary on Monday said separatists and Pakistan-sponsored terrorists were planning to observe August 5, 2020, as Black Day, on which apprehensions of violence are comprehended. “There are specific inputs about violent protests endangering life and property,” read the order announcing the curfew as a security measure.
Authorities had already put in place restrictions on people’s movement to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the wake of the recent surge in coronavirus cases in J&K. The intelligence inputs further strengthened the necessity of the imposition of curfew to prevent loss of life and property.
Therefore, Choudhary issued the curfew order “after considering the material facts in reports and examining the situation in the backdrop of the prevailing factors”, announcing complete restrictions of public movement in Srinagar district on the particular dates. Medical emergencies and movement of medical professionals on Covid duty with valid pass/cards shall be exempted from the curfew.
Srinagar additional deputy commissioner shall deploy one magistrate each to coordinate the implementation of restrictions in each police station area. On completion of the two-day curfew, the restrictions already in place for Covid-19 will resume and remain till August 8 unless revised earlier, the order added.
Meanwhile, 15 Corps Commander Lt Gen B S Raju held a security review meeting on Monday in view of the intelligence inputs received about the possible safety threats.