Srinagar: No curfew or restrictions were imposed in this Jammu and Kashmir summer capital on Wednesday despite separatists calling a valley wide protest shutdown. Private transport plied normally and banks and educational institutions also remained open.
"The situation is peaceful across the valley and no curfew or restrictions have been imposed anywhere," a senior police officer said here.
Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani has called for the shutdown as part of his group's 'Quit Kashmir' campaign that has paralysed life across the Kashmir Valley for over four months now.
Shops, public transport and other business establishments remained closed in Srinagar and other major towns of the valley where the authorities have deployed police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in strength to prevent any violence.
Private transport, however, plied almost normally, schools and colleges remained open and many banks functioned.
"Work in all government offices is going on normally and attendance in various offices across the valley is nearly 80 per cent," said a senior officer of the state government.
"Government employees have been advised to remain close to their places of posting so that their attendance is not affected because of non-availability of public transport because of the separatist shutdown."
Asked why the authorities had been resorting to imposition of curfew whenever the separatists called a protest march in the valley, a senior police officer said: "It is done as a precautionary measure to prevent separatists from inciting youth to violence."
In over four months of unrest in the valley, 109 people have lost their lives while scores of civilians and security men have sustained injuries in clashes with security forces.