Authorities on Monday imposed strict restrictions on civilian movement across several parts of the Valley, including Srinagar, a day after massive protests swept the region over the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in strikes by the US and Israel.
Security forces sealed the historic Lal Chowk, which had emerged as the epicentre of Sunday’s demonstrations, where thousands had gathered to mourn Khamenei’s death.
Mobile internet speed was also reduced in some areas as part of precautionary measures.
A heavy deployment of police and Central Armed Police Forces was made across sensitive locations to enforce the restrictions on the ground. Checkpoints were set up along several inter-district routes to prevent people from assembling.
Officials said the curbs were imposed as a preventive step to maintain law and order.
The curbs were imposed on a day when Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who heads the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulama, a conglomerate of religious organisations in Jammu and Kashmir, had called for a voluntary strike.
He had urged people to register their protest peacefully. The shutdown call received support from several political parties, including Peoples Democratic Party president.
On Sunday, widespread protests erupted across Kashmir, with large crowds assembling in various districts.
In Srinagar, demonstrators also gathered outside the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) headquarters, raising slogans against the United States, and Israel.
