Indefinite curfew continues in Kashmir, flag march by Army

An indefinite curfew, enforced with the army's assistance following violent protests that led to four deaths two days ago, continued on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar and other major towns of the valley.

Seventeen columns of army soldiers conducted flag marches on Wednesday to restore order in Srinagar which witnessed one of its worst public outrage and violence on Tuesday when four civilians were killed in clashes between mobs and security forces.

"There will be no relaxation in the indefinite curfew that was imposed here Wednesday. People are advised to remain indoors and come out only in case of an emergency after contacting the police in their areas," a senior police officer said here.

"The curfew was imposed to protect civilian life and property from the designs of anti-social elements and it will not remain in force a minute longer than it is required," he added.

Reports from north Kashmir's Sopore, Baramulla, Kupwara and Handwara, and south Kashmir's Anantnag, Koimoh, Pulwama and Kakpora towns said curfew was being strictly enforced Thursday.

All scheduled examinations to be held by the Kashmir University as well as various professional exams by the Jammu and Kashmir public service commission have been postponed.

The Chief Minister, Mr Omar Abdullah, apprised the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and the Union home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, on the latest law and order situation in the valley on Wednesday.

The Union home secretary, Mr G.K. Pillai, director general military operations Lt. Gen. A.M. Verma, corps commander of army's Srinagar-based 15th corps Lt. Gen. G.S. Marwah and Jammu and Kashmir director general of police Kuldeep Khoda also had a four-hour law and order review meeting with the chief minister.