Srinagar: Curfew was clamped in more areas of the Kashmir Valley on Thursday which witnessed stray incidents of violence as the Army carried out a flag march in Srinagar to maintain law and order.
Sopore town and old parts of Baramulla were placed under curfew as a precautionary measure, official sources said.
Curfew was also being enforced strictly in Srinagar, where three persons were killed in alleged firing by security forces on Tuesday. The sources said that there was no curfew in Baramulla town, Handwara, Shopian, Ganderbal and Budgam.
A group of protestors had attempted to gather in Batmaloo area of Srinagar during the night but were peacefully dispersed by the security forces, they said. Protestors had also tried to attack a bus carrying new police recruits in the outskirts of Srinagar but the attempt was thwarted.
The Army had yesterday moved 17 columns (about 1,700 personnel) into various parts of the city to assist the civil administration in maintaining law and order.
Srinagar, which was bustling with tourists before the trouble started, looked like a lifeless city with empty streets, closed shops and deserted shikaras amid the heavy presence of security forces.
The state government had sought help of the Army in the wake of spiralling protests in the city.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had yesterday spoken to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over phone and briefed him on the law and order situation in the Valley. Omar had apprised the Prime Minister about the steps being taken in restoring normalcy which included cracking down on mischief-makers and miscreants, sources said.
The Chief Minister had also spoken twice to Home Minister P Chidambaram and also to Defence Minister A K Antony about the developments.
Union Home Secretary G K Pillai, who had flown in here yesterday from Delhi along with Director General of Military Operations Lt Gen A M Verma, had met the Chief Minister and reviewed the overall law and order situation.
Pillai had assured the Chief Minister of complete support of the Centre in maintaining peace in the Valley.
The Home Secretary had also chaired a meeting of officials of CRPF, Army and State Police and Intelligence Bureau.
The Kashmir situation was discussed at the CCS meeting chaired by the Prime Minister yesterday. It was decided that Army would be deployed only in the "periphery" and not in the congested areas of Kashmir.
The CCS had favoured "maximum crackdown" on miscreants who had contributed to the deterioration of the current situation in the valley.
It was also made clear that army has been deployed in Srinagar for "deterrent effect" and the decision to place it in specific areas would be done by the civil administration.
As curfew was clamped in more areas of Kashmir, Home Minister P Chidambaram hoped Thursday that the Army would not be required there for too long and appealed to people of the Valley to observe restrictions.
He said major share of patrolling and law enforcement was being done by the state police and the CRPF and the Army was on standby in case there was need for its deployment.
The Home Minister said Kashmir witnessed "two very minor incidents" of violence Wednesday but Thursday he was yet to receive any report on the situation.
"Army was deployed at the request of the government of Jammu and Kashmir. I am not at liberty to disclose where it has been deployed. But I can assure that most of the places affected are still being patrolled and curfew enforced by J and K Police and paramilitary forces," he told reporters here.
His comments while briefing on decisions of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs came as more areas of Kashmir were brought under curfew on Thursday.
Underlining that the purpose of moving in the Army was to "serve as a deterrent", he said, "Army has been kept ready in case it becomes necessary to deploy them."
Chidambaram said Army will be in Kashmir "as long as it is necessary" to deal with the situation there. "But I sincerely hope that it will not be necessary for too long."
He emphasised that people should not come out of their homes during curfew and pelt stones.
"I appeal to Jammu and Kashmir people to observe curfew and stay indoors. Curfew is in place for a couple of days. I am sure the J and K government will be able to relax curfew in a couple of days," he said.
"Parents should ensure that their children remain indoors. It is the responsibility of parents," the Home Minister said, adding "It is important that curfew is enforced and observed by everybody." PTI
