Srinagar, July 4: After 9-day siege and protests, authorities on Sunday lifted curfew in most parts of the Valley, including Srinagar, Varmul, Sopur, Kulgam, Qaimoh and Pulwama. However, curfew was re-imposed in south Kashmir’s Islamabad town after protests broke out during the relaxation period.
  
Rs 15 Cr withdrawn from ATMs 
 In Srinagar, an extraordinary rush was witnessed in the markets, especially in the city centre, Lal Chowk, as people came out of their homes after a long break. People thronged grocery shops, and ration depots to stock up essentials. Though it was Sunday, shops and business establishments remained open while vehicular transport also resumed on all routes. Long queues could be seen outside the ATMs across the city. An official source said Rs 15 Crore were withdrawn from the JK Bank ATMs today.
Curfew re-imposed in Islamabad.
 Authorities had to re-impose curfew in south Kashmir’s Islamabad town after protests broke out during the 2-hour relaxation on Sunday morning. 
 The authorities had lifted the curfew from 7:00 am without making any announcement. As the word about relaxation spread youth assembled at various places and tried staging pro-freedom demonstrations. Police and paramilitary CRPF men resorted to baton charge and fired tear smoke canisters to disperse protesters who offered stiff resistance and retaliated with stones, triggering clashes.
 Protesters demanding stern punishment against the erring policemen involved in the killing of 3-teenagers at Anchidoora last week succeeded in marching towards the deputy commissioner’s office. Some of the angry youth tried to attack the deputy commissioner’s office and the Police Station at Sherbagh but police and CRPF thwarted their attempts.    
 Meanwhile, police sealed all the roads leading to Islamabad by erecting barricades and concertina wires ahead of the proposed Islamabad march, the call for which has been given by the Hurriyat Conference (G).  
North Kashmir  
 Life was back to normal today in north Kashmir towns of Varmul and Sopur. Police said the day passed off peacefully with no untoward incident being reported.
 Officials said day curfew has been lifted in the Sopur town but night curfew would remain in force till further orders. The markets and ration depots in town witnessed a rush of shoppers during the day.
 The administration, meanwhile, today disbursed ex-gratia cheques of Rs one lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the recent firing incidents.
 Four persons were killed in the town during clashes between protesters and forces last week.
 Meanwhile, Minister of State for Revenue and Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, took stock of the law and order situation in Kupwara district at a meeting of officers.
 District Magistrate Showkat Ahmad Mir informed the minister that the situation was under control. The “Situation in Trehgam which also witnessed protests is also under control,” the DC told the Minister
 The Minister sought the cooperation of civil society to restore normalcy in the district.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 5 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST